Yesaya 59:2

59:2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;

your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. ¹ 

Yesaya 59:9

Israel Confesses its Sin

59:9 For this reason deliverance ²  is far from us ³ 

and salvation does not reach us.

We wait for light, ⁴  but see only darkness; ⁵ 

we wait for ⁶  a bright light, ⁷  but live ⁸  in deep darkness. ⁹ 

Yesaya 59:11

59:11 We all growl like bears,

we coo mournfully like doves;

we wait for deliverance, ¹⁰  but there is none,

for salvation, but it is far from us.

[59:2]  ¹ tn Heb “and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear.”

[59:9]  ² 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.

[59:9]  ³ sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.

[59:9]  ⁴ sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.

[59:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”

[59:9]  ⁶ tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[59:9]  ⁷ tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

[59:9]  ⁸ tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”

[59:9]  ⁹ tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

[59:11]  ¹⁰ tn See the note at v. 9.