1. The Lord says:Where’s your mother’s divorce decree,with which I sent her away?Or to which lender did I sell you?On account of your sins you were sold;on account of your transgressionsyour mother was sent away.
2. Why did I come and find no one?Why did I call when no one answered?Is my hand too small to redeem you?Don’t I have enough power to save?With my rebuke I dry up the seaand make the rivers into wilderness.Their fish stink from lack of water;they die of thirst.
3. I clothe the heavens with darknessand cover them with funeral clothing.
4. The Lord God gave me an educated tongueto know how to respond to the wearywith a word that will awaken them in the morning.God awakens my ear in the morning to listen,as educated people do.
5. The Lord God opened my ear;I didn’t rebel; I didn’t turn my back.
6. Instead, I gave my body to attackers,and my cheeks to beard pluckers.I didn’t hide my facefrom insults and spitting.