Discovery BoxIsaiah 59:13-16 
Context59:13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord;
we turned back from following our God.
We stir up 1 oppression and rebellion;
we tell lies we concocted in our minds. 2
59:14 Justice is driven back;
godliness 3 stands far off.
Indeed, 4 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, 5
for there is no justice.
59:16 He sees there is no advocate; 6
he is shocked 7 that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands; 8
his desire for justice drives him on. 9
1 tn Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”
3 tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”
4 tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).
5 tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
6 tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”
7 tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”
8 tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
9 tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
