Chapter 59

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened,¹ that it cannot save;⁵³ neither his ear heavy,¹ that it cannot hear:²

But your iniquities have separated⁵⁶ between you ⁹⁹⁶ and your God, and your sins have hid⁵² [his] face from you, that he will not hear.²

For your hands are defiled⁸ with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken¹⁴ lies, your tongue hath muttered⁴ perverseness.

None calleth⁶ for justice, nor [any] pleadeth¹² for truth: they trust² in vanity, and speak¹⁵ lies; they conceive² mischief, and bring forth⁵³ iniquity.

They hatch¹⁴ cockatrice' eggs, and weave⁴ the spider's web: he that eateth⁶ of their eggs dieth,⁴ and that which is crushed breaketh out¹¹ into a viper.

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover¹⁰¹ themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands.

Their feet run⁴ to evil, and they make haste¹⁷ to shed² innocent blood: their thoughts [are] thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction [are] in their paths.

The way of peace they know¹ not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked¹⁴ paths: whosoever goeth⁶ therein shall not know¹ peace.

Therefore is judgment far¹ from us, neither doth justice overtake⁵⁵ us: we wait¹⁷ for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] we walk¹⁷ in darkness.

We grope¹⁷ for the wall like the blind, and we grope¹⁷ as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble¹ at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead⁵ [men].

We roar⁴ all like bears, and mourn⁴ sore² like doves: we look¹⁷ for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far off¹ from us.

For our transgressions are multiplied¹ before thee, and our sins testify¹ against us: for our transgressions [are] with us; and [as for] our iniquities, we know¹ them;

In transgressing² and lying¹⁵ against the LORD, and departing away² from our God, speaking¹⁵ oppression and revolt, conceiving²³ and uttering²⁰ from the heart words of falsehood.

And judgment is turned away⁹⁰ backward, and justice standeth⁴ afar off: for truth is fallen¹ in the street, and equity cannot ^{3201 4} enter.²

Yea, truth faileth;¹² and he [that] departeth¹ from evil maketh himself a prey:¹¹⁴ and the LORD saw⁴ [it], and it displeased^{4 5869} him that [there was] no judgment.

And he saw⁴ that [there was] no man, and wondered¹¹³ that [there was] no intercessor:⁵⁶ therefore his arm brought salvation⁵⁵ unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained¹ him.

For he put on⁴ righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on⁴ the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad⁴ with zeal as a cloke.

According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay,¹⁷ fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies;⁶ to the islands he will repay¹⁷ recompence.

So shall they fear⁴ the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in⁴ like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard³¹ against him.

And the Redeemer⁶ shall come¹ to Zion, and unto them that turn⁶ from transgression in Jacob, saith⁷ the LORD.

As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith¹ the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put¹ in thy mouth, shall not depart⁴ out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith¹ the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.