Discovery BoxIsaiah 59:15-21
Context59:15 Honesty has disappeared;
the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.
The Lord watches and is displeased, 1
for there is no justice.
59:16 He sees there is no advocate; 2
he is shocked 3 that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands; 4
his desire for justice drives him on. 5
59:17 He wears his desire for justice 6 like body armor, 7
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. 8
He puts on the garments of vengeance 9
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. 10
He repays the coastlands. 11
59:19 In the west, people respect 12 the Lord’s reputation; 13
in the east they recognize his splendor. 14
For he comes like a rushing 15 stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord. 16
59:20 “A protector 17 comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” 18 says the Lord.
59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to 19 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,” 20 says the Lord.
[59:15] 1 tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
[59:16] 2 tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”
[59:16] 3 tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”
[59:16] 4 tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
[59:16] 5 tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
[59:17] 6 tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”
[59:17] 7 tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”
[59:17] 8 tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
[59:17] 9 tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
[59:18] 10 tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
[59:18] 11 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).
[59:19] 12 tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew
[59:19] 13 tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
[59:19] 14 tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
[59:19] 15 tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”
[59:19] 16 tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
[59:20] 17 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
[59:20] 18 tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
[59:21] 19 tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”
