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15 Truth ·cannot be found anywhere [is lost/gone; or fails],
    and people who refuse to do evil ·are attacked [become prey].

The Lord looked and could not find any justice,
    and he was displeased.
16 He ·could not find anyone to help the people [L saw there was no one],
    and he was ·surprised [shocked; appalled] that there was no one to ·help [intervene].
So ·he used his own power to save the people [L his own arm brought him salvation];
    his own ·goodness [righteousness] gave him strength.
17 He ·covered himself with goodness [put on righteousness] like ·armor [a breastplate].
    He put the helmet of salvation on his head [1 Thess. 5:8; Eph. 6:13–17].
He put on ·his clothes for punishing [garments of vengeance]
    and wrapped himself in ·the coat of his strong love [zeal/jealousy as a cloak].
18 The Lord will ·pay back his enemies [L repay] ·for what they have done [according to their deeds].
    He will show his ·anger [wrath] to ·those who were against him [his adversaries]
    and will ·punish [repay] his ·enemies [foes];
    he will ·punish [repay] the ·people in faraway places [or islands; or coastlands] as they deserve.
19 Then people from the west will fear the [L name of the] Lord,
    and people from the ·east [rising of the sun] will fear his glory.
·The Lord [L For he] will come quickly like a ·fast-flowing [or pent up] river,
    driven by the ·breath [or wind; or Spirit] of the Lord.

20 “Then a Savior will come to ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]
    and to the people of Jacob who have turned from ·sin [transgressions],”
says the Lord [Rom. 11:26–27].

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15 
Yes, truth is missing;
And he who turns away from evil makes himself a prey.
Now the Lord saw it,
And it [a]displeased Him that there was no justice.
16 
He saw that there was no man,
And was amazed that there was no one to intercede [on behalf of truth and right];
Therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His own righteousness sustained Him.(A)
17 
For He [the Lord] put on righteousness like a coat of armor,
And salvation like a helmet on His head;
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And covered Himself with zeal [and great love for His people] as a cloak.(B)
18 
As their deeds deserve, so He will repay:
Wrath to His adversaries, retribution to His enemies;
To the islands and coastlands He will repay.
19 
So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun.
For He will come in like a narrow, rushing stream
Which the [b]breath of the Lord drives [overwhelming the enemy].(C)
20 
“A Redeemer (Messiah) will come to Zion,
And to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression (sin),” declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 59:15 Lit was evil in His eyes.
  2. Isaiah 59:19 Or Spirit.