Isaiah 59: 9-19

The People Confess Their Sins

9 No one has come to defend us

or to bring about justice.

We hoped for a day of sunshine,

but all we found

was a dark, gloomy night.

10 We feel our way along,

as if we were blind;

we stumble at noon,

as if it were night.

We can see no better

than someone dead.

11 We growl like bears

and mourn like doves.

We hope for justice and victory,

but they escape us.

12 How often have we sinned

and turned against you,

the LORD God?

Our sins condemn us!

We have done wrong.

13 We have rebelled and refused

to follow you.

Our hearts were deceitful,

and so we lied;

we planned to abuse others

and turn our backs on you.

14 Injustice is everywhere;

justice seems far away.

Truth is chased out of court;

honesty is shoved aside.

15 Everyone tells lies;

those who turn from crime

end up ruined.

The LORD Will Rescue His People

When the LORD noticed

that justice had disappeared,

he became very displeased.

16 It disgusted him even more

to learn

that no one

would do a thing about it.

So with his own powerful arm,

he won victories for truth.

Justice was the LORD's armor;

saving power was his helmet;

anger and revenge

were his clothes.

18 Now the LORD will get furious

and do to his enemies,

both near and far,

what they did to his people.

19 He will attack like a flood

in a mighty windstorm.

Nations in the west and the east

will then honor and praise

his wonderful name.

© 1999 American Bible Society