Isaiah 59:8
New International Version
The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.

New Living Translation
They don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good. They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.

English Standard Version
The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.

Berean Standard Bible
The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.

King James Bible
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

New King James Version
The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

New American Standard Bible
They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, Whoever walks on them does not know peace.

NASB 1995
They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads on them does not know peace.

NASB 1977
They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked; Whoever treads on them does not know peace.

Legacy Standard Bible
They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads on them does not know peace.

Amplified Bible
They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks. They have made them into crooked paths; Whoever walks on them does not know peace.

Christian Standard Bible
They have not known the path of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made their roads crooked; no one who walks on them will know peace.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They have not known the path of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made their roads crooked; no one who walks on them will know peace.

American Standard Version
The way of peace they know not; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.

Contemporary English Version
You don't know how to live in peace or to be fair with others. The roads you make are crooked; your followers cannot find peace.

English Revised Version
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They don't know the way of peace. There's no justice on their highways. They've made their paths crooked. Whoever walks on them will never know peace.

Good News Translation
and no one is safe when you are around. Everything you do is unjust. You follow a crooked path, and no one who walks that path will ever be safe.

International Standard Version
The pathway of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their courses. They have made their roads crooked; no one who walks in them will know peace."

Majority Standard Bible
The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.

NET Bible
They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.

New Heart English Bible
The way of peace they do not know; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whoever goes in it does not know peace.

Webster's Bible Translation
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

World English Bible
They don’t know the way of peace; and there is no justice in their ways. They have made crooked paths for themselves; whoever goes in them doesn’t know peace.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They have not known a way of peace, "" And there is no judgment in their paths, "" They have made their paths perverse for themselves, "" None treading in it has known peace.

Young's Literal Translation
A way of peace they have not known, And there is no judgment in their paths, Their paths they have made perverse for themselves, No treader in it hath known peace.

Smith's Literal Translation
The way of peace they knew not, and no judgment in their paths: they perverted their beaten paths for themselves: every one treading in it shall not know peace.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They have not known the way of peace, and there is no judgment in their steps: their paths are become crooked to them, every one that treadeth in them, knoweth no peace.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They have not known the way of peace, and there is no judgment in their steps. Their paths have become crooked for them. Anyone who treads in them knows no peace.

New American Bible
The way of peace they know not, and there is no justice on their paths; Their roads they have made crooked, no one who walks in them knows peace.

New Revised Standard Version
The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths. Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The way of peace they know not; and there is no justice in their ways; they have made their paths crooked; whosoever walks in them shall not know peace.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The path of peace they have not known and there is no judgment in their steps. They pervert their paths and no one who walks in them knows peace
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the way of peace they know not, neither is there judgment in their ways; for their paths by which they go are crooked, and they know not peace.
Audio Bible



Context
Sin Separates Us from God
7Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. 8The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace. 9Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.…

Cross References
Romans 3:17
and the way of peace they have not known.”

Proverbs 3:17
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’

Luke 1:79
to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Proverbs 1:31-33
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. / For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. / But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

Jeremiah 8:15
We hoped for peace, but no good has come, for a time of healing, but there was only terror.

Micah 3:9-11
Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right, / who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity. / Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Psalm 36:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes. / For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin. / The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing. ...

Jeremiah 5:1-5
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city. / Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.” / O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. ...

Romans 3:10-18
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” ...

Proverbs 2:15
whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.

Ezekiel 7:25
Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none.

Psalm 14:1-3
For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. / The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.


Treasury of Scripture

The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whoever goes therein shall not know peace.

way

Proverbs 3:17
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Luke 1:79
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Romans 3:17
And the way of peace have they not known:

no

Isaiah 59:14,15
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter…

Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Jeremiah 5:1
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

judgment.

Psalm 58:1,2
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? …

crooked

Psalm 125:5
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Proverbs 2:15
Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

Proverbs 28:18
Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

whosoever

Isaiah 48:22
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

Isaiah 57:20,21
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt…

Jump to Previous
Behaviour Crooked Goes Goings Judgment Justice Paths Peace Perverse Right Roads Sense Themselves Therein Tracks Treader Treads Turned Walks Way Ways
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Behaviour Crooked Goes Goings Judgment Justice Paths Peace Perverse Right Roads Sense Themselves Therein Tracks Treader Treads Turned Walks Way Ways
Isaiah 59
1. Calamities are not due to lack of saving power in God, but to their own sins
16. Salvation is only of God
20. The covenant of the Redeemer














The way of peace
This phrase highlights a path or lifestyle characterized by harmony, righteousness, and alignment with God's will. In Hebrew, "peace" is "shalom," which encompasses completeness, welfare, and tranquility. Biblically, peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of God's order and blessing. Historically, Israel often strayed from this path, seeking peace through alliances and idolatry rather than through obedience to God. The "way of peace" is a divine path, one that Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, ultimately fulfills and offers to humanity.

they have not known
This indicates a lack of experiential knowledge or understanding. The Hebrew word "yada" implies an intimate, personal acquaintance. The people of Israel, despite having the Law and the Prophets, failed to internalize and live out the principles of peace. This ignorance is not due to a lack of information but a willful rejection of God's ways. In a broader spiritual sense, it reflects humanity's general estrangement from God, which can only be reconciled through Christ.

and there is no justice in their tracks
"Justice" in Hebrew is "mishpat," referring to God's righteous standards and judgments. The absence of justice signifies a society where God's laws are ignored, leading to moral and social chaos. "Tracks" or "paths" symbolize the habitual ways or lifestyles of the people. Historically, Israel's leaders often perverted justice, favoring the rich and oppressing the poor, contrary to God's commands. This lack of justice is a direct result of turning away from God's covenant.

they have turned them into crooked paths
This phrase suggests a deliberate deviation from the straight and righteous path ordained by God. "Crooked" paths are those that are twisted and deceitful, leading away from truth and righteousness. The Hebrew word "avah" means to bend or twist, indicating moral corruption. Throughout Israel's history, such deviations led to national calamity and exile. Spiritually, it represents the human tendency to distort God's truth for selfish ends.

no one who treads on them will know peace
This is a solemn warning that those who follow these crooked paths will not experience "shalom." The Hebrew word for "tread" implies walking or living in a certain way. The consequence of choosing a path contrary to God's will is a life devoid of true peace. This reflects the biblical principle that peace is a fruit of righteousness and cannot be found apart from God. In the New Testament, Jesus offers peace not as the world gives, but as a deep, abiding presence that comes from reconciliation with God.

Verse 8. - The way of peace they know not. They have no desire for "peace," and neither "seek" it nor "ensue" it (1 Peter 3:11). Peace can only be obtained through righteousness (Isaiah 32:17). There is no judgment in their goings; rather, no justice - no recognition of other men's rights, no endeavour to observe right in their own acts and proceedings (comp. ver. 4; and see also Isaiah 1:17, 21, 23; Isaiah 3:14, 15, etc.). They have made them crooked paths (comp. Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 28:6). The way that leadeth to life is straight. They have wandered from it, and made for themselves "crooked" paths, which can only lead to destruction. In such paths there neither is nor can be "peace."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The way
דֶּ֤רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of peace
שָׁלוֹם֙ (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

they have not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

known,
יָדָ֔עוּ (yā·ḏā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

and there is no
וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

justice
מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

in their tracks.
בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑ם (bə·ma‘·gə·lō·w·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4570: An entrenchment, track

They have turned them into
לָהֶ֔ם (lā·hem)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

crooked
עִקְּשׁ֣וּ (‘iq·qə·šū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6140: To knot, distort, to pervert

paths;
נְתִיבֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ (nə·ṯî·ḇō·w·ṯê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5410: Path, pathway

no one
כֹּ֚ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who treads
דֹּרֵ֣ךְ (dō·rêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow

on them
בָּ֔הּ (bāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

will know
יָדַ֖ע (yā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

peace.
שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they don't know (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 59:7
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