Isaiah 59:17-21

Context

59:17 He wears his desire for justice¹ like body armor,²

and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head.³

He puts on the garments of vengeance⁴

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.⁵

He repays the coastlands.⁶

59:19 In the west, people respect⁷ the Lord’s reputation;⁸

in the east they recognize his splendor.⁹

For he comes like a rushing¹⁰ stream

driven on by wind sent from the Lord.¹¹

59:20 “A protector¹² comes to Zion,

to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,”¹³ says the Lord.

59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to¹⁴ 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,”¹⁵ says the Lord.

[59:17] ¹tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”

[59:17] ²tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”

[59:17] ³tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”

[59:17] ⁴tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”

[59:18] ⁵tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”

[59:18] ⁶tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).

[59:19] ⁷tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read “see.”

[59:19] ⁸tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”

[59:19] ⁹tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”

[59:19] ¹⁰tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”

[59:19] ¹¹tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).

[59:20] ¹²tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[59:20] ¹³tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”

[59:21] ¹⁴tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”

[59:21] ¹⁵tn Heb “from now and on into the future.”