59:17 He wears his desire for justice 1 like body armor, 2
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. 3
He puts on the garments of vengeance 4
and wears zeal like a robe.
59:18 He repays them for what they have done,
dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries
and punishing his enemies. 5
He repays the coastlands. 6
59:19 In the west, people respect 7 the Lord’s reputation; 8
in the east they recognize his splendor. 9
For he comes like a rushing 10 stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord. 11
59:20 “A protector 12 comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” 13 says the Lord.
59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to 14 them,” says the Lord. “My spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,” 15 says the Lord.
1 tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”
2 tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”
3 tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
4 tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
5 tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
6 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).
7 tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew
8 tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
9 tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
10 tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”
11 tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
12 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
13 tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
14 tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”
15 tn Heb “from now and on into the future.”