15 Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil is plundered.
The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and he was offended.
16 He saw that there was no man—
he was amazed that there was no one interceding;(A)
so his own arm brought salvation,
and his own righteousness supported him.

17 He put on righteousness as body armor,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;(B)
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.(C)
18 So he will repay according to their deeds:(D)
fury to his enemies,
retribution to his foes,
and he will repay the coasts and islands.
19 They will fear the name of the Lord in the west
and his glory in the east;[a](E)
for he will come like a rushing stream(F)
driven by the wind of the Lord.
20 “The Redeemer(G) will come to Zion,
and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.”(H)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

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Footnotes

  1. 59:19 Lit sunrise

15 Truth is missing;
    anyone turning from evil is plundered.

God will intervene

The Lord looked and was upset at the absence of justice.
16 Seeing that there was no one,
    and astonished that no one would intervene,
    God’s arm brought victory,
    upheld by righteousness,
17     putting on righteousness as armor
    and a helmet of salvation on his head,
    putting on garments of vengeance,
    and wrapping himself in a cloak of zeal.
18 God will repay according to their actions:
    wrath to his foes, retribution to enemies,
    retribution to the coastlands,
19     so those in the west will fear the Lord’s name,
    and those in the east will fear God’s glory.
It will come like a rushing river
    that the Lord’s wind drives on.
20 A redeemer will come to Zion
    and to those in Jacob who stop rebelling,
    says the Lord.

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