Isaiah 59:14-21

59:14 Justice is driven back;

godliness ¹  stands far off.

Indeed, ²  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, ³ 

for there is no justice.

The Lord Intervenes

59:16 He sees there is no advocate; ⁴ 

he is shocked ⁵  that no one intervenes.

So he takes matters into his own hands; ⁶ 

his desire for justice drives him on. ⁷ 

59:17 He wears his desire for justice ⁸  like body armor, ⁹ 

and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. ¹⁰ 

He puts on the garments of vengeance ¹¹ 

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. ¹² 

He repays the coastlands. ¹³ 

59:19 In the west, people respect ¹⁴  the Lord’s reputation; ¹⁵ 

in the east they recognize his splendor. ¹⁶ 

For he comes like a rushing ¹⁷  stream

driven on by wind sent from the Lord. ¹⁸ 

59:20 “A protector ¹⁹  comes to Zion,

to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” ²⁰  says the Lord.

59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to ²¹  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,” ²²  says the Lord.

[59:14]  ¹ tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”

[59:14]  ² tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).

[59:15]  ³ tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”

[59:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”

[59:16]  ⁵ tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”

[59:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”

[59:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”

[59:17]  ⁸ tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”

[59:17]  ⁹ tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”

[59:17]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”

[59:17]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”

[59:18]  ¹² tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”

[59:18]  ¹³ tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).

[59:19]  ¹⁴ tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read “see.”

[59:19]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”

[59:19]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”

[59:19]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”

[59:19]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).

[59:20]  ¹⁹ tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[59:20]  ²⁰ tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”

[59:21]  ²¹ tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”

[59:21]  ²² tn Heb “from now and on into the future.”