Israel—punished, not forgotten
1Israel—punished, not forgotten
1The LORD says,
“You think I divorced your mom?
Can you show me the divorce papers?
Where did the gett [1] go?
You think I sold you to pay a debt?
Wrong on both counts.
I sent you packing because of your sins.
When I later came to take you back
Why did you ignore me when I called? [2]
Do you think I’m too weak to rescue you? [3]
That I don’t have the strength to save you?
Remember this, I can dry the sea. [4]
I can turn rivers into a desert,
Leaving the fish flopping,
And stinking the place.
3
I can turn daylight to darkness
So the sky turns to mourning.
I’ll hold my head high
4The LORD gave me a tongue worth talking about, [5]
With just the right words for the weary.
Day after day I rise from my bed
As a student who listens and learns.
The LORD gave me ears
And I don’t resist using them.
I don’t ignore what he says.
6
People beat my back, and I took abuse.
Again, when they pulled out my beard.
I didn’t run from their insults.
I took their spit on my face.
7
The LORD God helps me.
I don’t feel disgraced.
I wore my expression solid as a rock.
I’ll have nothing to do with their shame.
Clear my name
8The Judge is coming to clear my name.
So, who’s going to take me to court?
Let’s stand there together, side by side.
Where are my enemies?
Come on, step up.
Listen, the LORD God is coming to help me.
Do you think you’ve got a chance?
You’ll all slip away, quietly slinking.
You’ll be as gone as a moth-eaten cloth.
10
Does anyone out there trust the LORD?
I’m his servant. Will anyone do what I say?
When you walk in darkness
And there’s no light at all,
That’s when you lean on the LORD.
That’s when you call on your God.
11
But you make your own kind of light.
And you walk by the light of your torch.
If you follow that path by the light of your hand.
It will lead to a torturous end.
