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
New American Standard Bible
15 Truth is lacking,
And one who turns aside from evil (A)makes himself a prey.
Now the Lord saw,
And it was [a]displeasing in His sight (B)that there was no justice.
16 And He saw that there was (C)no one,
And was amazed that there was not one to intercede;
Then His (D)own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17 He put on (E)righteousness like a breastplate,
And a (F)helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on (G)garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with (H)zeal as a cloak.
18 (I)According to their deeds, [b]so will He repay:
Wrath to His adversaries, [c]retribution to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will [d]deal [e]retribution.
19 So they will fear the name of the Lord from the (J)west
And His glory from the (K)rising of the sun,
For He will (L)come like a [f]rushing stream
Which the wind of the Lord drives.
20 “A (M)Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those in Jacob who (N)turn from wrongdoing,” declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 59:15 Or evil
- Isaiah 59:18 Lit accordingly
- Isaiah 59:18 Lit requital
- Isaiah 59:18 Lit repay
- Isaiah 59:18 Lit requital
- Isaiah 59:19 Lit narrow
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