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God Helps His Servant

^1 (F1)The LORD declares this;

"Where is the ^(C1)certificate of divorce
By which I have ^(C2)sent your mother away, O Israel?
Or to which one of My creditors did I ^(C3)sell you as slaves?
In fact, You were sold for your ^(C4)wickedness your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing,
And for your ^(C5)transgressions your mother ^(C6)was sent away.

² "Why, when I came, was there ^(C1)no man to greet Me?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is My ^(C2)hand really so short that it cannot redeem My servants?
Or have I no power to rescue?
Listen carefully, with My rebuke I ^(C3)dry up the sea,
I ^(C4)make the rivers into a desert;
Their fish stink because there is no water
And die of thirst.

³ "I ^(C1)clothe the heavens with the blackness of storm clouds
And make sackcloth of mourning their clothing."

⁴ The Lord GOD has given Me His ^(F1)Servant the tongue of ^(C1)disciples as One who is taught,
That I may know how to ^(C2)sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens Me ^(C3)morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple as One who is taught.

⁵ The Lord GOD has ^(C1)opened My ear,
And I have ^(C2)not been rebellious
Nor have I turned back.

⁶ I ^(C1)turned My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting. ^(VR1)

⁷ For the Lord GOD ^(C1)helps Me,
Therefore, I have ^(C2)not been ashamed or humiliated.
Therefore, I have made My face like ^(C3)flint,
And I know that I shall not be put to shame. ^(VR1)

⁸ He who ^(C1)declares Me in the right is near;
Who will dare to contend with Me?
Let us ^(C2)stand up to each other;
Who is My adversary?
Let him approach Me. ^(VR1)

⁹ In fact, ^(C1)the Lord GOD helps Me;
^(C2)Who is he who condemns Me as guilty?
^(C3)Indeed, they will all wear out like a garment;
The moth will eat them. ^(VR1)

¹⁰ Who is among you who fears the LORD,
Who obeys the voice of His ^(C1)Servant,
Yet who ^(C2)walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him ^(C3)trust and be confident in the name of the LORD and let him rely on his God.

¹¹ Listen carefully, all you who ^(C1)kindle your own fire devising your own man-made plan of salvation,
Who surround yourselves with torches,
Walk by the light of your self-made fire
And among the torches that you have set ablaze.
But this you will have from My hand:
You will ^(C2)lie down in a place of torment. ^(VR1)