A Confession of Wickedness

Therefore (A)justice is far from us,
And righteousness does not reach us;
We (B)hope for light, but there is darkness,
For brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10 We (C)grope for the wall like people who are blind,
We grope like those who have no eyes.
We (D)stumble at midday as in the twilight;
Among those who are healthy we are (E)like the dead.
11 All of us growl like bears,
And (F)moan sadly like doves;
We hope for (G)justice, but there is none;
For salvation, but it is far from us.
12 For our (H)wrongful acts have multiplied before You,
And our (I)sins have testified against us;
For our wrongful acts are with us,
And [a]we know our wrongdoings:
13 [b]Offending and (J)denying the Lord,
And turning away from our God,
Speaking (K)oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and (L)uttering lying words from the heart.
14 (M)Justice is turned back,
And (N)righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.
15 Truth is lacking,
And one who turns aside from evil (O)makes himself a prey.
Now the Lord saw,
And it was [c]displeasing in His sight (P)that there was no justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 59:12 Lit our wrongdoings we know them
  2. Isaiah 59:13 Or Revolting against and
  3. Isaiah 59:15 Or evil

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)

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