1Behold , the LORD’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 God , 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 hath muttered perverseness . 4None calleth for justice , nor any pleadeth for truth : they trust in vanity , and speak lies ; they conceive mischief , and bring forth iniquity . 5They hatch cockatrice’ 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 they 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 ; wasting and destruction are in their paths . 8The 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 .
The Consequences of Sin
9Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light , but behold obscurity ; for brightness , but we walk in darkness . 10We grope for the wall like the blind , and we grope as if we had no eyes : we stumble at noonday as in the night ; we are in desolate places as dead men . 11We roar all like bears , and mourn sore like doves : we look for judgment , 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 with us; and as for our iniquities , we know them; 13In transgressing and lying against the LORD , and departing away from our God , speaking oppression and revolt , conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood . 14And judgment is turned away backward , and justice standeth afar off : for truth is fallen in the street , and equity cannot enter . 15Yea, truth faileth ; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey : and the LORD saw it , and it displeased him that there was no judgment .
The Lord's Response and Promise of Redemption
16And he saw that there was no man , and wondered that there was no intercessor : therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness , it sustained him. 17For he put on righteousness as a breastplate , and an helmet of salvation upon his head ; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing , and was clad with zeal as a cloke . 18According to their deeds , accordingly he will repay , fury to his adversaries , recompence to his enemies ; to the islands he will repay recompence . 19So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west , and his glory from the rising of the sun . When the enemy shall come in like a flood , the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. 20And the Redeemer shall come to Zion , and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob , saith the LORD . 21As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD ; 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 the LORD , from henceforth and for ever .