Isaiah 59:9–15

⁹Therefore justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not overtake us;

we look for light, and behold, darkness,

and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

¹⁰We 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.

¹¹We all growl like bears,

we moan and moan like doves;

we look for justice, but there is none;

for salvation, but it is far from us.

¹²For our transgressions are multiplied before thee,

and our sins testify against us;

for our transgressions are with us,

and we know our iniquities:

¹³transgressing, and denying the Lord,

and turning away from following our God,

speaking oppression and revolt,

conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.

¹⁴Justice is turned back,

and righteousness stands afar off;

for truth has fallen in the public squares,

and uprightness cannot enter.

¹⁵Truth is lacking,

and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him

that there was no justice.