59:9 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.