Isaiah 59:9
New International Version
So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

New Living Translation
So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.

English Standard Version
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore 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.

King James Bible
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

New King James Version
Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!

New American Standard Bible
Therefore 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.

NASB 1995
Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom.

NASB 1977
Therefore, justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness; For brightness, but we walk in gloom.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness, For brightness, but we walk in thick darkness.

Amplified Bible
Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us. We [expectantly] hope for light, but only see darkness; We hope for gleam of light, but we walk in darkness and gloom.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we live in the night.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we live in the night.

American Standard Version
Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.

Contemporary English Version
No one has come to defend us or to bring about justice. We hoped for a day of sunshine, but all we found was a dark, gloomy night.

English Revised Version
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but behold darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That is why justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn't reach us. We hope for light, but we walk in darkness. We hope for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

Good News Translation
The people say, "Now we know why God does not save us from those who oppress us. We hope for light to walk by, but there is only darkness,

International Standard Version
"So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We wait for light, but look—there is darkness; we wait for brightness, but we walk in deep darkness.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore 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.

NET Bible
For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore is justice far from us, neither does righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, look, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

World English Bible
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn’t overtake us. We look for light, but see darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore judgment has been far from us, "" And righteousness does not reach us, "" We wait for light, and behold, darkness, "" For brightness—in thick darkness we go,

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore hath judgment been far from us, And righteousness reacheth us not, We wait for light, and lo, darkness, For brightness -- in thick darkness we go,

Smith's Literal Translation
For this judgment was far off from us, and justice shall not overtake us: we shall wait for light, and behold, darkness; for brightness, and we shall walk in thick darkness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore is judgment far from us, and justice shall not overtake us. We looked for light, and behold darkness: brightness, and we have walked in the dark.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Because of this, judgment is far from us, and justice will not take hold of us. We waited for light, and behold, darkness; we waited for brightness, and we walked in darkness.

New American Bible
That is why judgment is far from us and justice does not reach us. We look for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, and we walk in gloom!

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, judgment is far away from us and righteousness will not overtake us. We wait for the light and there has been darkness, and for the brightness, and in thick darkness we have walked
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore is justice far from us, Neither doth righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but behold darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore has judgment departed from them, and righteousness shall not overtake them: while they waited for light, darkness came upon them; while they waited for brightness, they walked in perplexity.
Audio Bible



Context
Sin Separates Us from God
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. 10Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

Lamentations 3:2
He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light.

Micah 3:6
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.

Amos 5:18-20
Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light. / It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. / Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Job 30:26
But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell.

Proverbs 4:19
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Zephaniah 1:15
That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

Psalm 82:5
They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Psalm 107:10-14
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains, / because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. / He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. ...

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

Matthew 4:16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

John 3:19-20
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

1 John 1:6
If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

is judgment

Lamentations 5:16,17
The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! …

Habakkuk 1:13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

we wait

Isaiah 5:30
And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

Job 30:26
When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

Jeremiah 8:15
We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

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Brightness Cause Dark Darkness Deep Far Gloom Hope Judgment Justice Light Night Obscurity Overtake Overtaketh Reach Reacheth Right Righteousness Shining Sun Thick Wait Walk Way
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Brightness Cause Dark Darkness Deep Far Gloom Hope Judgment Justice Light Night Obscurity Overtake Overtaketh Reach Reacheth Right Righteousness Shining Sun Thick Wait Walk Way
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














Therefore
The word "therefore" serves as a pivotal transition, indicating a conclusion or result based on previous statements. In the context of Isaiah 59, it connects the people's acknowledgment of their sins and the resulting consequences. The Hebrew word used here is "לָכֵן" (lakhen), which often introduces a logical outcome. This highlights the inevitability of the situation due to the people's actions, emphasizing the justice and righteousness of God's response.

justice
The Hebrew word for "justice" is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), which encompasses not only legal judgments but also the broader concept of righteousness and moral order. In the biblical context, justice is a fundamental attribute of God's character, reflecting His desire for fairness and equity among His people. The absence of justice here underscores the moral decay and societal breakdown resulting from sin.

is far from us
This phrase indicates a separation or distance, suggesting that justice is not only absent but also unattainable due to the people's iniquities. The imagery of distance conveys a sense of longing and despair, as the people recognize their inability to achieve justice on their own. It reflects the spiritual and moral chasm that sin creates between humanity and God's righteous standards.

and righteousness
"Righteousness" in Hebrew is "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), which refers to the quality of being morally right or justifiable. It is closely related to justice but emphasizes personal integrity and ethical conduct. In the biblical narrative, righteousness is often associated with God's covenantal faithfulness and the expected behavior of His people. The lack of righteousness here highlights the failure to live according to God's covenant.

does not reach us
This phrase conveys the idea of something being out of reach or inaccessible. The Hebrew verb "נָגַע" (naga) means to touch or come into contact with. The imagery suggests that righteousness is something the people desire but cannot attain due to their sinful state. It emphasizes the helplessness and frustration of being unable to align with God's standards without divine intervention.

We hope for light
The metaphor of light represents guidance, truth, and divine presence. In the Hebrew Bible, light is often associated with God's revelation and the dispelling of darkness, which symbolizes ignorance and sin. The people's hope for light indicates a desire for clarity, understanding, and a return to God's favor. It reflects an awareness of their need for divine illumination to overcome their spiritual blindness.

but there is darkness
Darkness, in contrast to light, symbolizes confusion, evil, and separation from God. The presence of darkness signifies the pervasive influence of sin and the resulting moral and spiritual blindness. It underscores the severity of the people's condition and the depth of their estrangement from God. The imagery of darkness serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from divine truth.

for brightness
Brightness, like light, is associated with clarity, purity, and the presence of God. The Hebrew word "נֹגַהּ" (nogah) conveys a sense of radiance and splendor. The people's longing for brightness reflects their desire for a return to God's glory and the restoration of their relationship with Him. It signifies a yearning for the transformative power of God's presence to dispel the darkness of sin.

but we walk in gloom
Gloom represents a state of despair, confusion, and hopelessness. The Hebrew word "אֲפֵלָה" (afelah) suggests a deep, pervasive darkness that affects both the physical and spiritual realms. Walking in gloom indicates a continuous state of living in the absence of God's guidance and favor. It highlights the tragic reality of life apart from God, where the path is obscured, and the future is uncertain. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the urgent need for repentance and divine intervention.

(9) Therefore is judgment.--The pleading of the prophet is followed by the confession which he makes on their behalf. They admit that the delay in the manifestation of God's judgment against their enemies, and of His righteousness (i.e., bounty) towards themselves, has been caused by their own sins.

We wait for light.--The cry of the expectant Israelites is, mutatis mutandis, like that of the "How long?" of Zechariah 1:12; Revelation 6:10. On the assumption that the words come ideally from the Babylonian exiles, the first of these passages presents an interesting coincidence.

Verses 9-15. - ISRAEL HUMBLY CONFESSES ITS SIN'S TO GOD. Isaiah, anxious to bring the people to confession and amendment, makes humble confession in their name, joining himself with them, as if he had been a participator in their iniquities. Verse 9. - Therefore - i.e. on account of these sins - is judgment far from us; i.e. "does God refrain from judging our enemies." Neither doth justice - i.e. the righting of the wrongs which we suffer at the hands of the heathen - overtake us. We are left by God unavenged, and our enemies are left unpunished on account of our many transgressions. We wait for light. We look for a bright dawn to succeed the night of our trouble; but we wait in vain - the obscurity continues.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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

is far
רָחַ֤ק (rā·ḥaq)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7368: To be or become far or distant

from us,
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

and righteousness
צְדָקָ֑ה (ṣə·ḏā·qāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

does not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

reach us.
תַשִּׂיגֵ֖נוּ (ṯaś·śî·ḡê·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 5381: To reach, overtake

We hope
נְקַוֶּ֤ה (nə·qaw·weh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6960: To bind together, collect, to expect

for light,
לָאוֹר֙ (lā·’ō·wr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

but there
וְהִנֵּה־ (wə·hin·nêh-)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

is darkness,
חֹ֔שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

for brightness,
לִנְגֹה֖וֹת (lin·ḡō·hō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5054: Brightness

[but] we walk
נְהַלֵּֽךְ׃ (nə·hal·lêḵ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in gloom.
בָּאֲפֵל֥וֹת (bā·’ă·p̄ê·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 653: Duskiness, misfortune, concealment


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is justice far from us neither (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 59:8
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