Isaiah 59:1-4

Context

Injustice Brings Alienation from God

59:1 Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak¹ to deliver you;

his ear is not too deaf to hear you.²

59:2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;

your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.³

59:3 For your hands are stained with blood

and your fingers with sin;

your lips speak lies,

your tongue utters malicious words.

59:4 No one is concerned about justice;⁴

no one sets forth his case truthfully.

They depend on false words⁵ and tell lies;

they conceive of oppression⁶

and give birth to sin.

[59:1] ¹tn Heb “short” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[59:1] ²tn Heb “or his ear too heavy [i.e., “dull”] to hear.”

[59:2] ³tn Heb “and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear.”

[59:4] ⁴tn Heb “no one pleads with justice.”

[59:4] ⁵tn Heb “nothing”; NAB “emptiness.”

[59:4] ⁶tn Or “trouble” (NIV), or “harm.”