Injustice Brings Alienation from God

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

his ear is not too deaf to hear you.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.3

59:3 For your hands are stained with blood

and your fingers with sin;

your lips speak lies,

your tongue utters malicious words.

59:4 No 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.

59:5 They 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

59:6 Their webs cannot be used for clothing;

they cannot cover themselves with what they make.

Their deeds are sinful;

they commit violent crimes.8

59:7 They are eager to do evil,9

quick to shed innocent blood.10

Their thoughts are sinful;

they crush and destroy.11

59:8 They are unfamiliar with peace;

their deeds are unjust.12

They use deceitful methods,

and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.13