The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 ADONAI says: "Where is your mother's divorce document which I gave her when I divorced her? Or: to which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins; because of your crimes was your mother divorced.
1
This is the word of the Lord: Where is the statement which I gave your mother when I put her away? or to which of my creditors have I given you for money? It was for your sins that you were given into the hands of others, and for your evil-doing was your mother put away.
2 Why was no one here when I came? Why, when I called, did nobody answer? Is my arm too short to redeem? Have I too little power to save? With my rebuke I dry up the sea; I turn rivers into desert, their fish rot for lack of water and they die of thirst;
2
Why, then, when I came, was there no man? and no one to give answer to my voice? has my hand become feeble, so that it is unable to take up your cause? or have I no power to make you free? See, at my word the sea becomes dry, I make the rivers a waste land: their fish are dead for need of water, and make an evil smell.
3 I dress the heavens in black to mourn and make their covering sackcloth."
3
By me the heavens are clothed with black, and I make haircloth their robe.
4 Adonai ELOHIM has given me the ability to speak as a man well taught, so that I, with my words, know how to sustain the weary. Each morning he awakens my ear to hear like those who are taught.
4
The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are experienced, so that I may be able to give the word a special sense for the feeble: every morning my ear is open to his teaching, like those who are experienced:
5 Adonai ELOHIM has opened my ear, and I neither rebelled nor turned away.
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And I have not put myself against him, or let my heart be turned back from him.
6 I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
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I was offering my back to those who gave me blows, and my face to those who were pulling out my hair: I did not keep my face covered from marks of shame.
7 For Adonai ELOHIM will help. This is why no insult can wound me. This is why I have set my face like flint, knowing I will not be put to shame.
7
For the Lord God is my helper; I will not be put to shame: so I have made my face like a rock, and I am certain that he will give me my right.
8 My vindicator is close by; let whoever dares to accuse me appear with me in court! Let whoever has a case against me step forward!
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He who takes up my cause is near; who will go to law with me? let us come together before the judge: who is against me? let him come near to me.
9 Look, if Adonai ELOHIM helps me, who will dare to condemn me? Here, they are all falling apart like old, moth-eaten clothes.
9
See, the Lord God is my helper; who will give a decision against me? truly, all of them will become old like a robe; they will be food for the worm.
10 Who among you fears ADONAI? Who obeys what his servant says? Even when he walks in the dark, without any light, he will trust in ADONAI's reputation and rely on his God.
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Who among you has the fear of the Lord, giving ear to the voice of his servant who has been walking in the dark and has no light? Let him put his faith in the name of the Lord, looking to his God for support.
11 But all of you who are lighting fires and arming yourselves with firebrands: go, walk in the flame of your own fire, among the firebrands you lit! From my hands this [fate] awaits you: you will lie down in torment.
11
See, all you who make a fire, arming yourselves with burning branches: go in the flame of your fire, and among the branches you have put a light to. This will you have from my hand, you will make your bed in sorrow.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.