Isaiah 59:18-21

59:18 He repays them for what they have done,

dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries

and punishing his enemies. ¹ 

He repays the coastlands. ² 

59:19 In the west, people respect ³  the Lord’s reputation; ⁴ 

in the east they recognize his splendor. ⁵ 

For he comes like a rushing ⁶  stream

driven on by wind sent from the Lord. ⁷ 

59:20 “A protector ⁸  comes to Zion,

to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” ⁹  says the Lord.

59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to ¹⁰  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,” ¹¹  says the Lord.

[59:18]  ¹ tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”

[59:18]  ² tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).

[59:19]  ³ tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read “see.”

[59:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”

[59:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”

[59:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”

[59:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).

[59:20]  ⁸ tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[59:20]  ⁹ tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”

[59:21]  ¹⁰ tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”

[59:21]  ¹¹ tn Heb “from now and on into the future.”