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¹ Thus saith the Lorde: Where is the byll of your mothers deuorcement whom I sent away? or who is the vsurer to whom I solde you? Beholde, for your offences are ye solde, and because of your transgression is your mother forsaken.² For why woulde no man receaue me when I came? and when I called, no man gaue me aunswere? Is my hande shortened that it myght not helpe? or haue I not power to deliuer? lo, at a worde I drynke vp the sea, & of water fluddes I make drye lande: so that for want of water the fishe corrupt and dye for thirste.³ As for heauen I clothe it with darknesse, and put as it were a sacke vpon it.

⁴ The Lorde God hath geuen me a well learned tongue, so that I can comfort them that are troubled, yea & that in due season: he wakeneth mine eare vp betymes in the mornyng, betymes in the mornyng I say he wyll waken mine eare, that I might hearke as to the schoolemaisters.⁵ The Lorde God hath opened myne eare, and I haue not gaynesayde nor withdrawen my selfe.⁶ But I offred my backe vnto the smiters, and my cheekes to the nippers: I turned not my face from shame and spittinges.⁷ And the Lorde God shall helpe me, therfore shall I not be confounded: I haue therfore hardened my face lyke a flint stone, for I am sure that I shall not come to confusion.⁸ He is at hande that iustifieth me, who wyll then go with me to lawe? Let vs stande together, yf there be any that will reason with me? let hym come here foorth to me.⁹ Beholde the Lorde God wyll helpe me, what is he the that can condempne me? lo, they all shall waxe olde lyke a cloth, the moth shall eate them vp.

¹⁰ Therfore who so feareth the Lorde among you, let hym heare the voyce of his seruaunt: Who so walketh in darknesse and no lyght shyneth vpon hym, let hym put his trust in the name of the Lorde, and holde hym by his God.¹¹ But take heede, ye all kindle a fire, and stirre vp the coales: walke on in the glisteryng of your owne fire, and in the coales that ye haue kindled: This commeth vnto you from my hande [namely] that ye shall sleepe in sorowe.