Isaiæ 59
1 Ecce non est abbreviata manus Domini ut salvare nequeat, neque aggravata est auris eius ut non exaudiat:
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 Sed iniquitates vestrae diviserunt inter vos et Deum vestrum, et peccata vestra absconderunt faciem eius a vobis ne exaudiret.
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3 Manus enim vestrae pollutae sunt sanguine, et digiti vestri iniquitate: labia vestra locuta sunt mendacium, et lingua vestra iniquitatem fatur.
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.
4 Non est qui invocet iustitiam, neque est qui iudicet vere: sed confidunt in nihilo, et loquuntur vanitates: conceperunt laborem, et pepererunt iniquitatem.
None calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5 Ova aspidum ruperunt, et telas araneae texuerunt: qui comederit de ovis eorum, morietur: et quod confotum est, erumpet in regulum.
They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eats of their eggs dies, and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.
6 Telae eorum non erunt in vestimentum, neque operientur operibus suis: opera eorum opera inutilia, et opus iniquitatis in manibus eorum.
Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
7 Pedes eorum ad malum currunt, et festinant ut effundant sanguinem innocentem, cogitationes eorum cogitationes inutiles: vastitas et contritio in viis eorum.
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8 Viam pacis nescierunt, et non est iudicium in gressibus eorum. semitae eorum incurvatae sunt eis: omnis qui calcat in eis, ignorat pacem.
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whoever goes therein shall not know peace.
9 Propter hoc elongatum est iudicium a nobis, et non apprehendet vos iustitia: expectavimus lucem, et ecce tenebrae: splendorem, et in tenebris ambulavimus.
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10 Palpavimus sicut caeci parietem, et quasi absque oculis attrectavimus: impegimus meridie quasi in tenebris, in caliginosis quasi mortui.
We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
11 Rugiemus quasi ursi omnes, et quasi columbae meditantes gememus. expectavimus iudicium, et non est: salutem, et elongata est a nobis.
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12 Multiplicatae sunt enim iniquitates nostrae coram te, et peccata nostra responderunt nobis. quia scelera nostra nobiscum, et iniquitates nostras cognovimus,
For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
13 peccare et mentiri contra Dominum: et aversi sumus ne iremus post tergum Dei nostri, ut loqueremur calumniam et transgressionem: concepimus, et locuti sumus de corde verba mendacii.
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 Et conversum est retrorsum iudicium, et iustitia longe stetit: quia corruit in platea veritas, et aequitas non potuit ingredi.
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15 Et facta est veritas in oblivionem: et qui recessit a malo, praedae patuit: et vidit Dominus, et malum apparuit in oculis eius, quia non est iudicium.
Yes, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
16 et vidit quia non est vir: et aporiatus est, quia non est qui occurrat: et salvavit sibi brachium suum, et iustitia eius ipsa confirmavit eum.
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
17 Indutus est iustitia ut lorica, et galea salutis in capite eius: indutus est vestimentis ultionis, et opertus est quasi pallio zeli.
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 Sicut ad vindictam quasi ad retributionem indignationis hostibus suis, et vicissitudinem inimicis suis: insulis vicem reddet.
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
19 Et timebunt qui ab Occidente, nomen Domini: et qui ab ortu solis, gloriam eius: cum venerit quasi fluvius violentus, quem spiritus Domini cogit:
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
20 et venerit Sion redemptor, et eis, qui redeunt ab iniquitate in Iacob, dicit Dominus.
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob, says the LORD.
21 Hoc foedus meum cum eis, dicit Dominus: Spiritus meus, qui est in te, et verba mea, quae posui in ore tuo, non recedent de ore tuo, et de ore seminis tui, et de ore seminis seminis tui, dicit Dominus, amodo et usque in sempiternum.
As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD; My spirit that is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed, says the LORD, from now on and for ever.
