14 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.
15 The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
16 Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
17 Heb “but, look, darkness”; “but all is darkness.”
18 The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
19 The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
20 Or “walk about”; “all we have is darkness.”
21 The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
22 Heb “like there are no eyes.”
23 Heb among the strong, like dead men.”
24 See the note at v. .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Therefore justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not overtake us;

we hope for light, and behold, darkness,

and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

We grope for the wall like the blind;

we grope like those who have no eyes;

we stumble at noon as in the twilight,

among those in full vigor we are like dead men.

We all growl like bears;

we moan and moan like doves;

we hope for justice, but there is none;

for salvation, but it is far from us.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

So justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not reach us.

We look for light, but all is darkness;

for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

Like the blind we grope along the wall,

feeling our way like people without eyes.

At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;

among the strong, we are like the dead.

We all growl like bears;

we moan mournfully like doves.

We look for justice, but find none;

for deliverance, but it is far away.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Therefore justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not reach us.

We hope for light, but there is darkness;

for brightness, but we live in the night.

We grope along a wall like the blind;

we grope like those without eyes.

We stumble at noon as though it were twilight;

we are like the dead among those who are healthy.

We all growl like bears

and moan like doves.

We hope for justice, but there is none;

for salvation, but it is far from us.

NLTNew Living Translation

So there is no justice among us,

and we know nothing about right living.

We look for light but find only darkness.

We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.

We grope like the blind along a wall,

feeling our way like people without eyes.

Even at brightest noontime,

we stumble as though it were dark.

Among the living,

we are like the dead.

We growl like hungry bears;

we moan like mournful doves.

We look for justice, but it never comes.

We look for rescue, but it is far away from us.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Therefore justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not reach us.

We wait for light, but look! there is darkness;

for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

We grope like the blind along a wall,

and we grope as without eyes.

We stumble at noon as in the twilight;

among the strong we are like the dead.

We all groan like bears,

and we coo mutteringly like doves.

We wait for justice, but there is none;

for salvation, but it is far from us.

KJV 1900King James Version

Therefore is judgment far from us,

Neither doth justice overtake us:

We wait for light, but behold obscurity;

For brightness, but we walk in darkness.

We grope for the wall like the blind,

And we grope as if we had no eyes:

We stumble at noonday as in the night;

We are in desolate places as dead men.

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.

Public Domain