Isaiah 59:13-17

13We have turned against the Lord. We have refused to obey him. We have chosen to be cruel to other people, and we have turned against the truth. We think about the lies that we can tell, and we use them to deceive people.

14Judges do not decide in a fair way. Nobody tries to do what is right. There is no place for truth on the streets of our towns. Honest people have to leave.

15Nobody can speak the truth. If anyone tries to stop doing evil things, other people will attack him. The Lord saw how his people were living. He saw that there was no justice. It made him very sad.

16He saw that there was nobody who would help, and he was very upset. So he used his own strength to help. Because he had to do what was right, he made his people safe.

17He always does what is right, like a soldier who always puts on his armour. His power to save people is like the helmet that he wears. He is angry against people who do evil things, and he works hard to punish them. That is like the clothes that he wears.