CHAPTER 59
But
your iniquities
have built barriers
between you
and your God,
and your sins
have hidden
His face
from you,
so that He will not hear.
For
your hands
are stained
with blood,
and your fingers
with iniquity;
your lips
have spoken
lies,
and your tongue
mutters
injustice.
No one
calls
for justice;
no one
pleads his case
honestly.
They rely
on
empty pleas;
they tell
lies;
they conceive
mischief
and give birth to
iniquity.
They hatch
the eggs
of vipers
and weave
a spider’s
web.
Whoever eats
their eggs
will die;
crack one open,
and a viper
is hatched.
Their cobwebs
cannot
be made into
clothing,
and they cannot
cover themselves
with their works.
Their deeds
are sinful
deeds,
and acts
of violence
are in their hands.
Their feet
run
to evil;
they are swift
to shed
innocent
blood.
Their thoughts
are sinful
thoughts;
ruin
and destruction
lie in their wake.
The way
of peace
they have not
known,
and there is no
justice
in their tracks.
They have turned them into
crooked
paths;
no one
who treads
on them
will know
peace.
Therefore
justice
is far
from us,
and righteousness
does not
reach us.
We hope
for light,
but there
is darkness,
for brightness,
but we walk
in gloom.
Like the blind,
we feel our way along
the wall,
groping
like those without
eyes.
We stumble
at midday
as in the twilight;
among the vigorous
we are like the dead.
We all
growl
like bears
and moan
like doves.
We hope
for justice,
but find none,
for salvation,
but it is far
from us.
For
our transgressions
are multiplied
before You,
and our sins
testify against us.
Our transgressions
are indeed
with us,
and we know
our iniquities:
rebelling
and denying
the LORD,
turning away
from
our God,
speaking
oppression
and revolt,
conceiving
and uttering
lies
from the heart.
So justice
is turned away,
and righteousness
stands
at a distance.
For
truth
has stumbled
in the public square,
and honesty
cannot
enter.
Truth
is
missing,
and whoever turns
from evil
makes himself prey.
The LORD
looked
and was offended
that
there was no
justice.
He saw
that
there was no
man—
He was amazed
that
there was no one
to intercede;
so His own arm
brought salvation,
and His own righteousness
sustained Him.
He put on
righteousness
like a breastplate,
and the helmet
of salvation
on His head;
He put on
garments
of vengeance
and wrapped Himself
in a cloak
of zeal.
So He will repay
according to
their deeds:
fury
to His enemies,
retribution
to His foes,
and recompense
to the islands.
So will they fear
the name
of the LORD
from the west
and His glory
from the rising
of the sun;
for
He will come
like a rushing
stream,
driven
by the wind
of the LORD.
“The Redeemer
will come
to Zion,
to those in Jacob
who turn
from transgression,”
declares
the LORD.
“As for Me,
this
is My covenant
with them,”
says
the LORD.
“My Spirit
who
is on you,
and My words
that
I have put
in your mouth,
will not
depart
from your mouth,
from the mouths
of your children,
or from the mouths
of your children's
children,
from now on
and forevermore,”
says
the LORD.