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Therefore justice is far from us,
    and deliverance does not reach us;
we wait for light, but there is only darkness;
    and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.(A)
10 We grope like the blind along a wall,
    groping like those who have no eyes;
we stumble at noon as in the twilight,
    among the vigorous[a] as though we were dead.(B)
11 We all growl like bears;
    like doves we moan mournfully.
We wait for justice, but there is none;
    for salvation, but it is far from us.(C)
12 For our transgressions before you are many,
    and our sins testify against us.
Our transgressions indeed are with us,
    and we know our iniquities:(D)
13 transgressing and denying the Lord
    and turning away from following our God,
talking oppression and revolt,
    conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart.(E)
14 Justice is turned back,
    and deliverance stands at a distance,
for truth stumbles in the public square,
    and uprightness cannot enter.(F)
15 Truth is lacking,
    and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
    that there was no justice.(G)
16 He saw that there was no one
    and was appalled that there was no one to intervene,
so his own arm brought him victory,
    and his righteousness upheld him.(H)
17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate
    and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing
    and wrapped himself in fury as in a mantle.(I)
18 According to their deeds, so will he repay
    wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies;
    to the coastlands he will render requital.(J)
19 So those in the west shall fear the name of the Lord,
    and those in the east, his glory,
for he will come like a pent-up stream
    that the wind of the Lord drives on.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 59.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain

So justice is far from us,
    and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;(A)
    for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind(B) we grope along the wall,
    feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble(C) as if it were twilight;
    among the strong, we are like the dead.(D)
11 We all growl like bears;
    we moan mournfully like doves.(E)
We look for justice, but find none;
    for deliverance, but it is far away.

12 For our offenses(F) are many in your sight,
    and our sins testify(G) against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
    and we acknowledge our iniquities:(H)
13 rebellion(I) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs(J) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,(K)
    uttering lies(L) our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice(M) is driven back,
    and righteousness(N) stands at a distance;
truth(O) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth(P) is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.(Q)
16 He saw that there was no one,(R)
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;(S)
so his own arm achieved salvation(T) for him,
    and his own righteousness(U) sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate,(V)
    and the helmet(W) of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments(X) of vengeance(Y)
    and wrapped himself in zeal(Z) as in a cloak.
18 According to what they have done,
    so will he repay(AA)
wrath to his enemies
    and retribution to his foes;
    he will repay the islands(AB) their due.
19 From the west,(AC) people will fear the name of the Lord,
    and from the rising of the sun,(AD) they will revere his glory.(AE)
For he will come like a pent-up flood
    that the breath(AF) of the Lord drives along.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 59:19 Or When enemies come in like a flood, / the Spirit of the Lord will put them to flight