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They are eager to do evil,[a]
quick to shed innocent blood.[b]
Their thoughts are sinful;
they crush and destroy.[c]
They are unfamiliar with peace;
their deeds are unjust.[d]
They use deceitful methods,
and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.[e]

Israel Confesses its Sin

For this reason deliverance[f] is far from us[g]
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light,[h] but see only darkness;[i]
we wait for[j] a bright light,[k] but live[l] in deep darkness.[m]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 59:7 tn Heb “their feet run to evil.”
  2. Isaiah 59:7 tn Heb “they quickly pour out innocent blood.”
  3. Isaiah 59:7 tn Heb “their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways.”
  4. Isaiah 59:8 tn Heb “a way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their pathways.”
  5. Isaiah 59:8 tn Heb “their paths they make crooked; everyone who walks in it does not know peace.”
  6. Isaiah 59:9 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.
  7. Isaiah 59:9 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
  8. Isaiah 59:9 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
  9. Isaiah 59:9 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
  10. Isaiah 59:9 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  11. Isaiah 59:9 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
  12. Isaiah 59:9 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
  13. Isaiah 59:9 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

Their feet rush into sin;
    they are swift to shed innocent blood.(A)
They pursue evil schemes;(B)
    acts of violence mark their ways.(C)
The way of peace they do not know;(D)
    there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;(E)
    no one who walks along them will know peace.(F)

So justice is far from us,
    and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;(G)
    for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

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