Isaiah 59:1-8

1 Lo! the hand of the Lord is not abridged, that he may not save, neither his ear is made hard, that he hear not; (Lo! the hand, or the power, of the Lord is not shortened, or weakened, so that he cannot save, nor is his ear made hard, so that he cannot hear;)

2 but your wickednesses have parted betwixt you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he should not hear. (but your wickednesses have separated you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not listen to you.)

3 For why your hands be defouled with blood, and your fingers with wickedness; your lips spake leasing (your lips speak lies), and your tongue speaketh wickedness.

4 None there is, that calleth rightfulness to help, and none (there) is, that deemeth verily; but they trust in nought, and speak vanities; they conceived travail, and childed wickedness. (There is no one who calleth for justice, and there is no one who judgeth with truth; but they trust in nothing, and only say what is empty and futile; they think of ways to make things difficult, and give birth to wickedness.)

5 The have broken (the) eggs of snakes, and (have) made (the) webs of an araneid; he that eateth of the eggs of them, shall die, and that that is nursed, or hatched, shall break out into a cockatrice.

6 The webs of them shall not be into cloth, neither they shall be covered with their works; the works of them be unprofitable works, and the work of wickedness is in the hands of them. (Their webs shall never be made into cloth, nor shall they ever be covered with, or protected by, their works; their works be unprofitable works, and these wicked works come from their own hands.)

7 The feet of them run to evil, and haste to shed out innocent blood; the thoughts of them be unprofitable thoughts; destroying and defouling be in the ways of them. (Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to pour out innocent blood; their thoughts be unprofitable thoughts; destroying and defiling be their way of doing things.)

8 They knew not the way of peace, and doom is not in the goings of them; the paths of them be bowed to them; each that treadeth in those, knoweth not peace. (They knew not the way of peace, and justice is not their way; their paths be crooked; anyone who treadeth on them, knoweth not peace.)

Isaiah 59:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 59

As the former chapter declares the hypocrisy and formality of professors of religion; this expresses the errors and heresies, immorality and profaneness, which shall prevail before the spiritual reign of Christ, or the latter day glory begins; which is so fully described in the next chapter. Reasons are given of God's withdrawing his presence from a professing people, which were not want of power and readiness in him, but their own sins and transgressions, Isa 59:1,2 which are enumerated, such as murder, rapine, lies Isa 59:3-8 for which the judgments of God were upon them, darkness, distress, and misery, of which they were sensible, Isa 59:9-11 and confess their sins and transgressions, Isa 59:12,13 and lament their wretched state and condition, which was displeasing to God, Isa 59:14,15 who is represented as appearing for their salvation; moved to it by their want of help, and the oppression of their enemies, in which he shows his power, justice, zeal, grace, and goodness, Isa 59:16-18 the consequence of which shall be the conversion and salvation of many, owing to the efficacy of the divine Spirit, and to the spiritual coming of the Redeemer, Isa 59:19,20, and the chapter is closed with a promise of the continuance of the Spirit of God, and the Gospel of Christ in his church, unto the end of the world, Isa 59:21.