The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 59

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Isaiah chapter 59 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Behold, HaShem'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;” — the complete text of all 21 verses is below, free to read online.

1Behold, HaShem'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;

2But your iniquities have separated between you and your G-d, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.

4None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth; they trust in vanity, and speak lies, they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

5They hatch basilisks' eggs, and weave the spider's web; he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

6Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall men cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

7Their 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.

8The way of peace they know not, and there is no right in their goings; they have made them crooked paths, whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.

9Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but behold darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

10We grope for the wall like the blind, yea, as they that have no eyes do we grope; we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; we are in dark places like the dead.

11We all growl like bears, and mourn sore like doves; we look for right, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

12For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are present to us, and as for our iniquities, we know them:

13Transgressing and denying HaShem, and turning away from following our G-d, speaking oppression and perverseness, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth hath stumbled in the broad place, and uprightness cannot enter.

15And truth is lacking, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And HaShem saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice;

16And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him;

17And He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation upon His head, and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.

18According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompense.

19So shall they fear the name of HaShem from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; for distress will come in like a flood, which the breath of HaShem driveth.

20And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith HaShem.

21And as for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith HaShem; My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith HaShem, from henceforth and for ever.

21 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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