Thus says the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, with which I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.

Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish rots, because there is no water, and dies for thirst.

I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to sustain him that is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as the learned.

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

For the Lord God has helped me; therefore have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I knew that I should not be ashamed.

He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is my adversary? let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall grow old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Who is there among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and rely upon his God.

Behold all you that kindle a fire, and that girdle yourselves around with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This came to you from my hand; you shall lie down in grief.