Isaiah 59:1–8

Injustice Brings Alienation from God

^59:1Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak¹ to deliver you;

his ear is not too deaf to hear you.²

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

your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.³

^59:3For your hands are stained with blood

and your fingers with sin;

your lips speak lies,

your tongue utters malicious words.

^59:4No one is concerned about justice;⁴

no one sets forth his case truthfully.

They depend on false words⁵ and tell lies;

they conceive of oppression⁶

and give birth to sin.

^59:5They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake

and spin a spider’s web.

Whoever eats their eggs will die,

a poisonous snake is hatched.⁷

^59:6Their webs cannot be used for clothing;

they cannot cover themselves with what they make.

Their deeds are sinful;

they commit violent crimes.⁸

^59:7They are eager to do evil,⁹

quick to shed innocent blood.¹⁰

Their thoughts are sinful;

they crush and destroy.¹¹

^59:8They are unfamiliar with peace;

their deeds are unjust.¹²

They use deceitful methods,

and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.¹³