¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill¹ of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which² of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold,³ for your iniquities⁴ have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Wherefore, when I came⁵, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my⁶ hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I⁷ no power to deliver? behold, at my⁸ rebuke I dry⁹ up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish¹⁰ stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

¹¹I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

¶ The Lord GOD¹² hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word¹³ in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the¹⁴ learned.

¹⁵The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

I gave¹⁶ my back to the smiters, and my cheeks¹⁷ to them that plucked¹⁸ off the hair: I hid¹⁹ not my face from shame and spitting.

For the Lord²⁰ GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set²¹ my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

He is near that²² justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us²³ stand together: who is mine adversary²⁴? let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all²⁵ shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

¶ Who is among²⁶ you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth²⁷ the voice of his servant, that walketh²⁸ in darkness, and hath no light? let²⁹ him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Behold, all ye³⁰ that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk³¹ in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall³² ye have of mine hand; ye shall³³ lie down in sorrow.