Isaiah 59:13-16

59:13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord;

we turned back from following our God.

We stir up ¹  oppression and rebellion;

we tell lies we concocted in our minds. ² 

59:14 Justice is driven back;

godliness ³  stands far off.

Indeed, ⁴  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, ⁵ 

for there is no justice.

The Lord Intervenes

59:16 He sees there is no advocate; ⁶ 

he is shocked ⁷  that no one intervenes.

So he takes matters into his own hands; ⁸ 

his desire for justice drives him on. ⁹ 

[59:13]  ¹ tn Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[59:13]  ² tn Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”

[59:14]  ³ tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”

[59:14]  ⁴ tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).

[59:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”

[59:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”

[59:16]  ⁸ tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”

[59:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”

[59:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”