[1] Behold, Yahweh`s hand is not shortened, that it can`t save; neither his
ear heavy, that it can`t hear: [2] but your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so
that he will not hear. [3] For your hands are defiled with blood, and your
fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters
wickedness. [4] None sues in righteousness, and none pleads in truth: they
trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth
iniquity. [5] They hatch adders` eggs, and weave the spider`s web: he who
eats of their eggs dies; and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.
[6] Their 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. [7] Their 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] The way of peace they
don`t know; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them
crooked paths; whoever goes therein does not know peace. [9] Therefore is
justice far from us, neither does righteousness overtake us: we look for
light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
[10] We grope for the wall like the blind; yes, we grope as those who have
no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among those who are
lusty we are as dead men. [11] We roar all like bears, and moan sore like
doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far
off from us. [12] For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our
sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our
iniquities, we know them: [13] transgressing and denying Yahweh, and
turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. [14] Justice is
turned away backward, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is
fallen in the street, and uprightness can`t enter. [15] Yes, truth is
lacking; and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Yahweh saw it,
and it displeased him who there was no justice. [16] He saw that there was
no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm
brought salvation to him; and his righteousness, it upheld him. [17] He put
on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head;
and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as
a mantle. [18] According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath
to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay
recompense. [19] So shall they fear the name of Yahweh from the west, and
his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream,
which the breath of Yahweh drives. [20] A Redeemer will come to Zion, and
to those who turn from disobedience in Jacob, says Yahweh. [21] As for me,
this is my covenant with them, says Yahweh: my Spirit who is on you, and my
words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth,
nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed`s
seed, says Yahweh, from henceforth and forever.