Discovery BoxIsaiah 59:9-21
Context59:9 For this reason deliverance 1 is far from us 2
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light, 3 but see only darkness; 4
we wait for 5 a bright light, 6 but live 7 in deep darkness. 8
59:10 We grope along the wall like the blind,
we grope like those who cannot see; 9
we stumble at noontime as if it were evening.
Though others are strong, we are like dead men. 10
59:11 We all growl like bears,
we coo mournfully like doves;
we wait for deliverance, 11 but there is none,
for salvation, but it is far from us.
59:12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, 12
and our sins testify against us;
indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds;
we know our sins all too well. 13
59:13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord;
we turned back from following our God.
We stir up 14 oppression and rebellion;
we tell lies we concocted in our minds. 15
59:14 Justice is driven back;
godliness 16 stands far off.
Indeed, 17 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, 18
for there is no justice.
59:16 He sees there is no advocate; 19
he is shocked 20 that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands; 21
his desire for justice drives him on. 22
59:17 He wears his desire for justice 23 like body armor, 24
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. 25
He puts on the garments of vengeance 26
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. 27
He repays the coastlands. 28
59:19 In the west, people respect 29 the Lord’s reputation; 30
in the east they recognize his splendor. 31
For he comes like a rushing 32 stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord. 33
59:20 “A protector 34 comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” 35 says the Lord.
59:21 “As for me, this is my promise to 36 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,” 37 says the Lord.
[59:9] 1 tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
[59:9] 2 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
[59:9] 3 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
[59:9] 4 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
[59:9] 5 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
[59:9] 6 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
[59:9] 7 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
[59:9] 8 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
[59:10] 9 tn Heb “like there are no eyes.”
[59:10] 10 tn Heb among the strong, like dead men.”
[59:11] 11 tn See the note at v. 9.
[59:12] 12 tn Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”
[59:12] 13 tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”
[59:13] 14 tn Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[59:13] 15 tn Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”
[59:14] 16 tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”
[59:14] 17 tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).
[59:15] 18 tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
[59:16] 19 tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”
[59:16] 20 tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”
[59:16] 21 tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
[59:16] 22 tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
[59:17] 23 tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”
[59:17] 24 tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”
[59:17] 25 tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
[59:17] 26 tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
[59:18] 27 tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
[59:18] 28 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).
[59:19] 29 tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew
[59:19] 30 tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
[59:19] 31 tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
[59:19] 32 tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”
[59:19] 33 tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
[59:20] 34 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
[59:20] 35 tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
[59:21] 36 tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”
