以賽亞書50:1-11

50:1 耶和華如此說：我休你們的母親，休書在哪裡呢？我將你們賣給我哪一個債主呢？你們被賣，是因你們的罪孽；你們的母親被休，是因你們的過犯。
50:2 我來的時候，為何無人等候呢？我呼喚的時候，為何無人答應呢？我的膀臂豈是縮短、不能救贖嗎？我豈無拯救之力嗎？看哪，我一斥責，海就乾了；我使江河變為曠野；其中的魚因無水腥臭，乾渴而死。
50:3 我使諸天以黑暗為衣服，以麻布為遮蓋。
50:4 主耶和華賜我受教者的舌頭，使我知道怎樣用言語扶助疲乏的人。主每早晨提醒，提醒我的耳朵，使我能聽，像受教者一樣。
50:5 主耶和華開通我的耳朵；我並沒有違背，也沒有退後。
50:6 人打我的背，我任他打；人拔我腮頰的鬍鬚，我由他拔；人辱我，吐我，我並不掩面。
50:7 主耶和華必幫助我，所以我不抱愧。我硬著臉面好像堅石；我也知道我必不致蒙羞。
50:8 稱我為義的與我相近；誰與我爭論，可以與我一同站立；誰與我作對，可以就近我來。
50:9 主耶和華要幫助我；誰能定我有罪呢？他們都像衣服漸漸舊了，為蛀蟲所咬。
50:10 你們中間誰是敬畏耶和華、聽從他僕人之話的？這人行在暗中，沒有亮光。當倚靠耶和華的名，仗賴自己的上帝。
50:11 凡你們點火，用火把圍繞自己的可以行在你們的火焰裡，並你們所點的火把中。這是我手所定的：你們必躺在悲慘之中。

Thus says the Lord:

Where is your mother’s bill of divorce

with which I put her away?

Or which of my creditors is it

to whom I have sold you?

No, because of your sins you were sold,

and for your transgressions your mother was put away.

2

Why was no one there when I came?

Why did no one answer when I called?

Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?

Or have I no power to deliver?

By my rebuke I dry up the sea,

I make the rivers a desert;

their fish stink for lack of water,

and die of thirst.

3

I clothe the heavens with blackness,

and make sackcloth their covering.

4

The Lord God has given me

the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain

the weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens—

wakens my ear

to listen as those who are taught.

5

The Lord God has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious,

I did not turn backward.

6

I gave my back to those who struck me,

and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;

I did not hide my face

from insult and spitting.

7

The Lord God helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

8

he who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who are my adversaries?

Let them confront me.

9

It is the Lord God who helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

All of them will wear out like a garment;

the moth will eat them up.

10

Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys the voice of his servant,

who walks in darkness

and has no light,

yet trusts in the name of the Lord

and relies upon his God?

11

But all of you are kindlers of fire,

lighters of firebrands.

Walk in the flame of your fire,

and among the brands that you have kindled!

This is what you shall have from my hand:

you shall lie down in torment.

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    在人的生命中常常受到責備的影響，不管是別人的責備或是自責。然而這些責備常常是不公正，也不完全。因人對自己和別人的認識有限，也常常誤解。然而唯一有資格責備人的只有上帝，因為祂是全知全能的！所以，先知會說：「主耶和華必幫助我，所以我不抱愧。」「主耶和華要幫助我；誰能定我有罪呢？」

    也因為如此，人可以倚靠上帝勝過別人的責備和自我的責備，可以靠著主耶穌的恩典接納自己並在人面前勇敢站立，展現真正的自信。這是，從認清自己按照上帝的形象和樣式受造而開始的，並且相信耶穌的救贖的大功，沒有誰能定我們的罪。

    所以，基督徒雖然在傳福音時指明人有罪的事實，但這不是說上帝賦予我們定別人和自己的罪之權柄。而是要使人清楚需要倚靠上帝在基督裡的豐盛救恩，靠主耶穌的恩典勝過罪惡，不是靠責備勝過罪惡，所以馬丁路德宣告：「勇敢的犯罪吧！」