Isaiah 59:15-20
New English Translation
15 Honesty has disappeared;
the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.
The Lord watches and is displeased,[a]
for there is no justice.
The Lord Intervenes
16 He sees there is no advocate;[b]
he is shocked[c] that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands;[d]
his desire for justice drives him on.[e]
17 He wears his desire for justice[f] like body armor,[g]
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head.[h]
He puts on the garments of vengeance[i]
and wears zeal like a robe.
18 He repays them for what they have done,
dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries
and punishing his enemies.[j]
He repays the coastlands.[k]
19 In the west, people respect[l] the Lord’s reputation;[m]
in the east they recognize his splendor.[n]
For he comes like a rushing[o] stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord.[p]
20 “A protector[q] comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,”[r] says the Lord.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 59:15 tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
- Isaiah 59:16 tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”
- Isaiah 59:16 tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”
- Isaiah 59:16 tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
- Isaiah 59:16 tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
- Isaiah 59:17 tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”
- Isaiah 59:17 tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”
- Isaiah 59:17 tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
- Isaiah 59:17 tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
- Isaiah 59:18 tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
- Isaiah 59:18 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).
- Isaiah 59:19 tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read “see.”
- Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
- Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
- Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”
- Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
- Isaiah 59:20 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
- Isaiah 59:20 tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
Isaiah 59:15-20
English Standard Version
15 Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him[a]
that there was no justice.
16 (A)He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
17 (B)He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in (C)zeal as a cloak.
18 (D)According to their deeds, so will he repay,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
(E)to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 (F)So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
(G)for he will come like a rushing stream,[b]
which the wind of the Lord drives.
20 (H)“And (I)a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 59:15 Hebrew and it was evil in his eyes
- Isaiah 59:19 Hebrew a narrow river
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
