1Thus saith Hashem:
Where is the Sefer Keritut (Bill of Divorce)
by which I sent your Em (Mother) away?
Or which Nosheh (Creditor) of Mine is it
to whom I have sold you [into slavery]?
Behold, for your avonot (iniquities) have ye been sold,
and for your peysha'im (rebellions) was your Em sent away.

2Why, when I came, was there no ish (man [at all] to respond)?
When I called, was there none to answer?
Is My Yad too short, that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no ko'ach (power) to save?
Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the yam (sea),
I make the neharot (rivers) a midbar (desert);
their dag (fish) stink, because there is no mayim,
and die of tzama (thirst).

3I clothe Shomayim with blackness,
and I make sackcloth their covering.

4Adonoi Hashem hath given Me ¹³⁷
the leshon limmudim ¹³⁸(learned tongue of disciples),
that I should know how to speak a devar (word, i.e., word of consolation) in season to him that is weary;
He wakeneth baboker baboker (morning by morning),
He wakeneth Mine ozen (ear)
to hear as the limmudim (disciples, those being taught).

5Adonoi Hashem hath opened Mine ozen (ear),
and I was not rebellious,
neither did I turn back. ¹³⁹

6I ¹⁴⁰offered My gev (back) to them that deliver blows,
and My lekhi (cheeks) to them that pulled out: ¹⁴¹
I hid not My face from kelimot (humiliations, shame)
and rok (spitting, saliva).

7For Adonoi Hashem will help Me; ¹⁴²
therefore shall I not be disgraced;
therefore have I set My face ¹⁴³as khalamish (flint [See Lk 9:51]),
and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

8He that vindicateth ¹⁴⁴is karov (near),
who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is Mine Ba'al Mishpat (Adversary in court, the one bringing charges)?
Let him draw near to ¹⁴⁵Me [in court].

9See, Adonoi Hashem will help Me. ¹⁴⁶
Who is he that shall condemn Me?
See, they all shall wear out like a beged (garment);
the ahsh (moth) shall eat them.

10Who among you that feareth Hashem,
that obeyeth the voice of His Eved, ¹⁴⁷
though he may have walked in chashekhim (darknesses),
with no gleam of light for himself,
let him trust B'Shem Hashem,
and lean upon Elohav.

11See, all ye that kindle an eish (fire),
ye that prepare for battle with zikot (flashing firebrands),
walk in the light of the fire of your [own making]
and among the zikot (flashing firebrands) that ye have set burning,
and this shall ye have from My Yad;
ye shall lie down in ma'atze'vah (torment, pain, grieving). ¹⁴⁸