⁹ let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.^(A)

¹⁵ “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous^(A) Branch^(B) sprout from David’s line;^(C)
    he will do what is just and right in the land.

²¹ See, the Lord is coming^(A) out of his dwelling^(B)
    to punish^(C) the people of the earth for their sins.
The earth will disclose the blood^(D) shed on it;
    the earth will conceal its slain no longer.

⁴ say^(A) to those with fearful hearts,^(B)
    “Be strong, do not fear;^(C)
your God will come,^(D)
    he will come with vengeance;^(E)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save^(F) you.”

⁹ 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)
16 He saw that there was no one,^(R)
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;^(S)
so his own arm achieved salvation^(T) for him,
    and his own righteousness^(U) sustained him.
¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate,^(V)
    and the helmet^(W) of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments^(X) of vengeance^(Y)
    and wrapped himself in zeal^(Z) as in a cloak.
¹⁸ According to what they have done,
    so will he repay^(AA)
wrath to his enemies
    and retribution to his foes;
    he will repay the islands^(AB) their due.
¹⁹ From the west,^(AC) people will fear the name of the Lord,
    and from the rising of the sun,^(AD) they will revere his glory.^(AE)
For he will come like a pent-up flood
    that the breath^(AF) of the Lord drives along.^[a]

²⁰ “The Redeemer^(AG) will come to Zion,^(AH)
    to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”^(AI)
declares the Lord.