Confession and the Divine Warrior
Isaiah 59
The prophet declares that it is the people's own sins, not any weakness in the Lord, that separate them from him, describing hands defiled with blood and a way of peace unknown to them. The people confess their iniquity, and the Lord, seeing no one to help, himself puts on righteousness as armor and comes as a deliverer for Zion's sake.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonIT is not that the hand of the Lord is unable to save; nor that his ear is grown dull to hear;
BrentonHas the hand of the Lord no power to save? or has he made his ear heavy, so that he should not hear?
GreekΜὴ οὐκ ἰσχύει ἡ χεὶρ Κυρίου τοῦ σῶσαι; ἢ ἐβάρυνε τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ εἰσακοῦσαι;
KJVBehold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
JPSBehold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, Neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;
2
Thomsonbut your sins make a separation between you and your God; and on account of your sins He hath turned away his face from you that He may not exercise compassion.
BrentonNay, your iniquities separate between you and God, and because of your sins has he turned away his face from you, so as not to have mercy upon you.
GreekἈλλὰ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα ὑμῶν διϊστῶσιν ἀναμέσον ὑμῶν καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν ἀπέστρεψεν τὸ πρόσωπον ἀφʼ ὑμῶν τοῦ μὴ ἐλεῆσαι.
KJVBut your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
JPSBut your iniquities have separated Between you and your God, And your sins have hid His face from you, That He will not hear.
3
ThomsonFor your hands are polluted with blood, and your fingers with sins; your lips have spoken iniquity, and your tongue contriveth injustice.
BrentonFor your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with sins; your lips also have spoken iniquity, and your tongue meditates unrighteousness.
GreekΑἱ γὰρ χεῖρες ὑμῶν μεμολυσμέναι αἵματι, καὶ οἱ δάκτυλοι ὑμῶν ἐν ἁμαρτίαις, τὰ δὲ χείλη ὑμῶν ἐλάλησεν ἀνομίαν, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα ὑμῶν ἀδικίαν μελετᾷ.
KJVFor your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
JPSFor your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue muttereth wickedness.
4
ThomsonNone speaketh just things, nor is there any just judgment. They trusted in vanities and they speak lies. Because they hatch mischief, therefore they bring forth iniquity.
BrentonNone speaks justly, neither is there true judgment: they trust in vanities, and speak empty words; for they conceive trouble, and bring forth iniquity.
GreekΟὐθεὶς λαλεῖ δίκαια, οὐδὲ ἐστι κρίσις ἀληθινή· πεποίθασιν ἐπὶ ματαίοις, καὶ λαλοῦσι κενὰ, ὅτι κύουσι πόνον, καὶ τίκτουσιν ἀνομίαν.
KJVNone calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
JPSNone sueth in righteousness, And none pleadeth in truth; They trust in vanity, and speak lies, They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5
ThomsonThey hatched the eggs of asps, and are weaving a spider’s web; and he who was about to eat some of their eggs, upon breaking one that was hatched found therein a viper.
BrentonThey have hatched asps' eggs, and weave a spider's web: and he that is going to eat of their eggs, having crushed an addled egg, has found also in it a basilisk.
GreekὨὰ ἀσπίδων ἔῤῥηξαν, καὶ ἱστὸν ἀράχνης ὑφαίνουσι, καὶ ὁ μέλλων τῶν ὠῶν αὐτῶν φαγεῖν, συντρίψας οὔριον, εὗρε καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ βασιλίσκου.
KJVThey hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
JPSThey hatch basilisks’eggs, And weave the spider’s web; He that eateth of their eggs dieth, And that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
6
ThomsonTheir web will not serve for a mantle, nor can they clothe themselves with their works; for their works are works of iniquity.
BrentonTheir web shall not become a garment, nor shall they at all clothe themselves with their works; for their works are works of iniquity.
GreekὉ ἱστὸς αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔσται εἰς ἱμάτιον, οὐδὲ μὴ περιβάλωνται ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν· τὰ γὰρ ἔργα αὐτῶν, ἔργα ἀνομίας.
KJVTheir 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.
JPSTheir webs shall not become garments, Neither shall men cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands.
7
ThomsonTheir feet are running to evil; they are swift to shed blood. And their reasonings are reasonings for murders. Destruction and misery are in their ways,
BrentonAnd their feet run to wickedness, swift to shed blood; their thoughts also are thoughts of murder; destruction and misery are in their ways;
GreekΟἱ δὲ πόδες αὐτῶν ἐπὶ πονηρίαν τρέχουσι, ταχινοὶ ἐκχέαι αἷμα, καὶ οἱ διαλογισμοὶ αὐτὼν, διαλογισμοὶ ἀπὸ φόνων· σύντριμμα καὶ ταλαιπωρία ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν,
KJVTheir 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.
JPSTheir feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, Desolation and destruction are in their paths.
8
Thomsonand the path of peace they do not know, nor is there any judgment in their ways; for the paths which they travel are crooked and peace they do not know.
Brentonand the way of peace they know not, neither is there judgment in their ways; for their paths by which they go are crooked, and they know not peace.
Greekκαὶ ὁδὸν εἰρήνης οὐκ οἴδασι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι κρίσις ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν· αἱ γὰρ τρίβοι αὐτῶν διεστραμμέναι ἃς διοδεύουσι, καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν εἰρήνην.
KJVThe way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
JPSThe way of peace they know not, And there is no right in their goings; They have made them crooked paths, Whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.
9
ThomsonTherefore judgment is far from them, and saving mercy shall not overtake them. When they were waiting for light, darkness came upon them, expecting a blaze of light they walked in obscurity.
BrentonTherefore has judgment departed from them, and righteousness shall not overtake them: while they waited for light, darkness came upon them; while they waited for brightness, they walked in perplexity.
GreekΔιατοῦτο ἀπέστη ἡ κρίσις ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ μὴ καταλάβῃ αὐτοὺς δικαιοσύνη· ὑπομεινάντων αὐτῶν φῶς ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς σκότος, μείναντες αὐγὴν ἐν ἀωρίᾳ περιεπάτησαν.
KJVTherefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
JPSTherefore is justice far from us, Neither doth righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but behold darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10
ThomsonThey shall grope like blind men for a wall and feel about like men who have no eyes, and fall at mid-day as at midnight.
BrentonThey shall feel for the wall as blind men, and shall feel for it as if they had no eyes: and they shall feel at noon-day as at midnight; they shall groan as dying men.
GreekΨηλαφήσουσιν ὡς τυφλοὶ τοῖχον, καὶ ὡς οὐχ ὑπαρχόντων ὀφθαλμῶν ψηλαφήσουσι· καὶ πεσοῦνται ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ ὡς ἐν μεσονυκτίῳ, ὡς ἀποθνήσκοντες στενάξουσιν·
KJVWe 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.
JPS—
11
ThomsonWhen dying they will groan like a bear and mourn like a dove; and at their departing say: We waited for judgment and there is none: and as for safety, it is far from us.
BrentonThey shall proceed together as a bear and as a dove: we have waited for judgment, and there is no salvation, it is gone far from us.
GreekὩς ἄρκος καὶ ὡς περιστερὰ ἅμα πορεύσονται· ἀνεμείναμεν κρίσιν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σωτηρία, μακρὰν ἀφέστηκεν ἀφʼ ἡμῶν.
KJVWe 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.
JPSWe all growl like bears, And mourn sore like doves; We look for right, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far off from us.
12
ThomsonFor our manifold iniquity is before Thee; and our sins are risen up against us: for our iniquities are in us, and we acknowledge our transgressions.
BrentonFor our iniquity is great before thee, and our sins have risen up against us: for our iniquities are in us, and we know our unrighteous deeds.
GreekΠολλὴ γὰρ ἡμῶν ἡ ἀνομία ἐναντίον σου, καὶ αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ἡμῶν ἀντέστησαν ἡμῖν· αἱ γὰρ ἀνομίαι ἡμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ τὰ ἀδικήματα ἡμῶν ἔγνωμεν.
KJVFor our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
JPSFor our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are present to us, And as for our iniquities, we know them:
13
ThomsonWe have sinned; we have lied, and turned back from following our God; we have spoken things unjust, and have been disobedient; we have conceived and meditated from our heart lying words,
BrentonWe have sinned, and dealt falsely, and revolted from our God: we have spoken unrighteous words, and have been disobedient; we have conceived and uttered from our heart unrighteous words.
GreekἨσεβήσαμεν καὶ ἐψευσάμεθα, καὶ ἀπέστημεν ὄπισθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν· ἐλαλήσαμεν ἄδικα, καὶ ἠπειθήσαμεν· ἐκύομεν, καὶ ἐμελετήσαμεν ἀπὸ καρδίας ἡμῶν λόγους ἀδίκους·
KJV—
JPS—
14
Thomsonwe have indeed turned judgment backward, therefore saving mercy standeth aloof.
BrentonAnd we have turned judgment back, and righteousness has departed afar off: for truth is consumed in their ways, and they could not pass by a straight path.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεστήσαμεν ὀπίσω τὴν κρίσιν, καὶ ἡ δικαιοσύνη μακρὰν ἀφέστηκεν· ὅτι κατηναλώθη ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν ἡ ἀλήθεια, καὶ διʼ εὐθείας οὐκ ἐδύναντο διελθεῖν.
KJVAnd judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
JPSAnd justice is turned away backward, And righteousness standeth afar off; For truth hath stumbled in the broad place, And uprightness cannot enter.
15
Thomson—
BrentonAnd truth has been taken away, and they have turned aside their mind from understanding. And the Lord saw it, and it pleased him not that there was no judgment.
GreekΚαὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια ᾖρται, καὶ μετέστησαν τὴν διάνοιαν τοῦ συνιέναι. Καὶ εἶδε Κύριος, καὶ οὐκ ἤρεσεν αὐτῷ, ὅτι οὐκ ἦν κρίσις.
KJVYea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
JPSAnd truth is lacking, And he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice;
16
ThomsonWhen He took a view and there was no man; and made close observation, and there was no helper; then with His own arm He defended them and with mercy supported them.
BrentonAnd he looked, and there was no man, and he observed, and there was none to help: so he defended them with his arm, and stablished them with his mercy.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδε, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀνήρ, καὶ κατενοήσε, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἀντιληψόμενος· καὶ ἠμύνατο αὐτοὺς τῷ βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῇ ἐλεημοσύνῃ ἐστηρίσατο.
KJVAnd he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
JPSAnd He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; And His righteousness, it sustained Him;
17
ThomsonAnd He put on righteousness as a breast plate, and placed on His head the helmet of salvation, and threw around Him the mantle of vengeance, and His cloak,
BrentonAnd he put on righteousness as a breast-plate, and placed the helmet of salvation on his head; and he clothed himself with the garment of vengeance, and with his cloak,
GreekΚαὶ ἐνεδύσατο δικαιοσύνην ὡς θώρακα, καὶ περιέθετο περικεφαλαίαν σωτηρίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς, καὶ περιεβάλετο ἱμάτιον ἐκδικήσεως, καὶ τὸ περιβόλαιον αὐτοῦ,
KJVFor he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
JPSAnd He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, And a helmet of salvation upon His head, And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18
Thomsonas about to render retribution—reproach to His adversaries:
Brentonas one about to render a recompence, even reproach to his adversaries.
Greekὡς ἀνταποδώσων ἀνταπόδοσιν ὄνειδος τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις.
KJV—
JPS—
19
Thomsonand they from the west shall revere the name of the Lord; and they from the rising of the sun, His glorious name. For He will come like an impetuous stream—for the wrath of the Lord will come with fury.
BrentonSo shall they of the west fear the name of the Lord, and they that come from the rising of the sun his glorious name: for the wrath of the Lord shall come as a mighty river, it shall come with fury.
GreekΚαὶ φοβηθήσονται οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, καὶ οἱ ἀπʼ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἔνδοξον· ἥξει γὰρ ὡς ποταμὸς βίαιος ἡ ὀργὴ παρὰ Κυρίου, ἥξει μετὰ θυμοῦ.
KJVSo 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.
JPSSo shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; For distress will come in like a flood, Which the breath of the LORD driveth.
20
ThomsonFor the sake of Sion the Deliverer will come, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
BrentonAnd the deliverer shall come for Sion's sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
GreekΚαὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος, καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ.
KJVAnd the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
JPSAnd a redeemer will come to Zion, And unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, Saith the LORD.
21
ThomsonAnd this shall be My covenant with them, said the Lord, this spirit of Mine which is upon thee, and these words which I have put in thy mouth shall not fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, (for the Lord hath spoken) from this time forth forever.
BrentonAnd this shall be my covenant with them, said the Lord; My Spirit which is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, for the Lord has spoken it, henceforth and for ever.
GreekΚαὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρʼ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, εἶπε Κύριος· τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμὸν, ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί, καὶ τὰ ῥήματα, ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου, οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου· εἶπε γὰρ Κύριος ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
KJVAs for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
JPSAnd as for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.