Discovery BoxIsaiah 59:11-21
Context59:11 We all growl like bears,
we coo mournfully like doves;
we wait for deliverance, 1 but there is none,
for salvation, but it is far from us.
59:12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, 2
and our sins testify against us;
indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds;
we know our sins all too well. 3
59:13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord;
we turned back from following our God.
We stir up 4 oppression and rebellion;
we tell lies we concocted in our minds. 5
59:14 Justice is driven back;
godliness 6 stands far off.
Indeed, 7 honesty stumbles in the city square
and morality is not even able to enter.
59:15 Honesty has disappeared;
the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.
The Lord watches and is displeased, 8
for there is no justice.
59:16 He sees there is no advocate; 9
he is shocked 10 that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands; 11
his desire for justice drives him on. 12
59:17 He wears his desire for justice 13 like body armor, 14
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. 15
He puts on the garments of vengeance 16
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. 17
He repays the coastlands. 18
59:19 In the west, people respect 19 the Lord’s reputation; 20
in the east they recognize his splendor. 21
For he comes like a rushing 22 stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord. 23
59:20 “A protector 24 comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” 25 says the Lord.
59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to 26 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,” 27 says the Lord.
[59:11] 1 tn See the note at v. 9.
[59:12] 2 tn Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”
[59:12] 3 tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”
[59:13] 4 tn Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[59:13] 5 tn Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”
[59:14] 6 tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”
[59:14] 7 tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).
[59:15] 8 tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
[59:16] 9 tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”
[59:16] 10 tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”
[59:16] 11 tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
[59:16] 12 tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
[59:17] 13 tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”
[59:17] 14 tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”
[59:17] 15 tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
[59:17] 16 tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
[59:18] 17 tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
[59:18] 18 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).
[59:19] 19 tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew
[59:19] 20 tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
[59:19] 21 tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
[59:19] 22 tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”
[59:19] 23 tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
[59:20] 24 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
[59:20] 25 tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
[59:21] 26 tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”
