Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 59

1Beholdהֵ֛ןhenH2005,Yhwh'sיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068handיַד־yad-H3027is not shortenedקָצְרָ֥הka.tze.RahH7114,that it cannot saveמֵֽהוֹשִׁ֑יעַme.ho.Shi.a'H3467;neither his earאָזְנ֖וֹ'a.ze.NoH241heavyכָבְדָ֥הkha.ve.DahH3513,that it cannot hearמִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃mi.she.Mo.a'H8085:

2But your iniquitiesעֲוֹנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙'a.vo.no.tei.KhemH5771have separatedמַבְדִּלִ֔יםmav.di.LimH914betweenH996you and your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430,and your sinsוְחַטֹּֽאותֵיכֶ֗םve.cha.to.tei.KhemH2403have hidהִסְתִּ֧ירוּhis.Ti.ruH5641hisfaceפָנִ֛יםfa.NimH6440from you, that he will not hearמִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃mi.she.Mo.a'H8085.

3For your handsכַפֵּיכֶם֙kha.pei.KhemH3709are defiledנְגֹאֲל֣וּne.go.'a.LuH1351with bloodבַדָּ֔םva.DamH1818,and your fingersוְאֶצְבְּעוֹתֵיכֶ֖םve.'etz.be.'o.tei.KhemH676with iniquityבֶּֽעָוֹ֑ןbe.'a.VonH5771;your lipsשִׂפְתֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙sif.to.tei.KhemH8193have spokenדִּבְּרוּ־di.be.ru-H1696liesשֶׁ֔קֶרShe.kerH8267,your tongueלְשׁוֹנְכֶ֖םle.shon.KhemH3956hath mutteredתֶהְגֶּֽה׃teh.GehH1897perversenessעַוְלָ֥ה'av.LahH5766.

4None callethקֹרֵ֣אko.Re'H7121for justiceבְצֶ֔דֶקve.Tze.dekH6664, nor anypleadethנִשְׁפָּ֖טnish.PatH8199for truthבֶּאֱמוּנָ֑הbe.'e.mu.NahH530:they trustבָּט֤וֹחַba.To.achH982in vanityתֹּ֙הוּ֙to.huH8414,and speakוְדַבֶּר־ve.da.ber-H1696liesשָׁ֔וְאShav'H7723;they conceiveהָר֥וֹha.RoH2029mischiefעָמָ֖ל'a.MalH5999,and bring forthוְהוֹלֵ֥ידve.ho.LeidH3205iniquityאָֽוֶן׃'A.venH205.

5They hatchבִּקֵּ֔עוּbi.Ke.'uH1234cockatrice’צִפְעוֹנִי֙tzif.'o.NiH6848eggsבֵּיצֵ֤יbei.TzeiH1000,and weaveיֶאֱרֹ֑גוּye.'e.Ro.guH707the spider’sעַכָּבִ֖ישׁ'a.ka.VishH5908webוְקוּרֵ֥יve.ku.ReiH6980:he that eatethהָאֹכֵ֤לha.'o.KhelH398of their eggsמִבֵּֽיצֵיהֶם֙mi.bei.tzei.HemH1000diethיָמ֔וּתya.MutH4191,and that which is crushedוְהַזּוּרֶ֖הve.ha.zu.RehH2116breaketh outתִּבָּקַ֥עti.ba.Ka'H1234into a viperאֶפְעֶֽה׃'ef.'EhH660.

6Their websקֽוּרֵיהֶם֙ku.rei.HemH6980shall not become garmentsלְבֶ֔גֶדle.Ve.gedH899,neither shall they coverיִתְכַּסּ֖וּyit.ka.SuH3680themselves with their worksבְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑םbe.ma.'a.sei.HemH4639:their worksמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ma.'a.sei.HemH4639areworksמַֽעֲשֵׂי־ma.'a.sei-H4639of iniquityאָ֔וֶן'A.venH205,and the actוּפֹ֥עַלu.Fo.'alH6467of violenceחָמָ֖סcha.MasH2555isin their handsבְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃be.kha.pei.HemH3709.

7Their feetרַגְלֵיהֶם֙rag.lei.HemH7272runיָרֻ֔צוּya.Ru.tzuH7323to evilלָרַ֣עla.Ra'H7451,and they make hasteוִֽימַהֲר֔וּvi.ma.ha.RuH4116to shedלִשְׁפֹּ֖ךְlish.PokhH8210innocentנָקִ֑יna.KiH5355bloodדָּ֣םdamH1818:their thoughtsמַחְשְׁבֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙mach.she.vo.tei.HemH4284arethoughtsמַחְשְׁב֣וֹתmach.she.VotH4284of iniquityאָ֔וֶן'A.venH205;wastingשֹׁ֥דshodH7701and destructionוָשֶׁ֖בֶרva.She.verH7667arein their pathsבִּמְסִלּוֹתָֽם׃bim.si.lo.TamH4546.

8The wayדֶּ֤רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of peaceשָׁלוֹם֙sha.lOmH7965they knowיָדָ֔עוּya.Da.'uH3045not; and there isno judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941in their goingsבְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑םbe.ma'.ge.lo.TamH4570:they have made them crookedעִקְּשׁ֣וּ'i.ke.ShuH6140pathsנְתִיבֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ne.ti.vo.tei.HemH5410:whosoever goethדֹּרֵ֣ךְdo.RekhH1869therein shall not knowיָדַ֖עya.Da'H3045peaceשָׁלֽוֹם׃sha.LomH7965.

9Therefore is judgmentמִשְׁפָּט֙mish.PatH4941farרָחַ֤קra.ChakH7368from us, neither doth justiceצְדָקָ֑הtze.da.KahH6666overtakeתַשִּׂיגֵ֖נוּta.si.Ge.nuH5381us: we waitנְקַוֶּ֤הne.ka.VehH6960for lightלָאוֹר֙la.'OrH216,but behold obscurityחֹ֔שֶׁךְCho.shekhH2822;for brightnessלִנְגֹה֖וֹתlin.go.HotH5054, butwe walkנְהַלֵּֽךְ׃ne.ha.LekhH1980in darknessבָּאֲפֵל֥וֹתba.'a.fe.LotH653.

10We gropeנְגַֽשְׁשָׁ֤הne.gash.ShahH1659for the wallקִ֔ירKirH7023like the blindכַֽעִוְרִים֙kha.'iv.RimH5787,and we gropeנְגַשֵּׁ֑שָׁהne.ga.She.shahH1659as if we hadno eyesעֵינַ֖יִם'ei.Na.yimH5869:we stumbleכָּשַׁ֤לְנוּka.Shal.nuH3782at noondayבַֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙va.tzo.ho.Ra.yimH6672as in the nightכַּנֶּ֔שֶׁףka.Ne.shefH5399; we arein desolateבָּאַשְׁמַנִּ֖יםba.'ash.ma.NimH820places as deadכַּמֵּתִֽים׃ka.me.TimH4191men.

11We roarנֶהֱמֶ֤הne.he.MehH1993all like bearsכַדֻּבִּים֙kha.du.BimH1677,and mournהָגֹ֣הha.GohH1897soreנֶהְגֶּ֑הneh.GehH1897like dovesוְכַיּוֹנִ֖יםve.khai.yo.NimH3123:we lookנְקַוֶּ֤הne.ka.VehH6960for judgmentלַמִּשְׁפָּט֙la.mish.PatH4941, but there isnone; for salvationלִֽישׁוּעָ֖הli.shu.'AhH3444, butit is far offרָחֲקָ֥הra.cha.KahH7368from us.

12For our transgressionsפְשָׁעֵ֙ינוּ֙fe.sha.'Ei.nuH6588are multipliedרַבּ֤וּra.BuH7231before thee, and our sinsוְחַטֹּאותֵ֖ינוּve.cha.to.Tei.nuH2403testifyעָ֣נְתָה'A.ne.tahH6030against us: for our transgressionsפְשָׁעֵ֣ינוּfe.sha.'Ei.nuH6588are with us; and as forour iniquitiesוַעֲוֹנֹתֵ֖ינוּva.'a.vo.no.Tei.nuH5771,we knowיְדַֽעֲנֽוּם׃ye.Da.'a.NumH3045them;

13In transgressingפָּשֹׁ֤עַpa.Sho.a'H6586and lyingוְכַחֵשׁ֙ve.kha.CheshH3584against Yhwhבַּֽיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068,and departing awayוְנָס֖וֹגve.na.SogH5253fromמֵאַחַ֣רme.'a.CharH310our Godאֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,speakingדַּבֶּר־da.ber-H1696oppressionעֹ֣שֶׁק'O.shekH6233and revoltוְסָרָ֔הve.sa.RahH5627,conceivingהֹר֧וֹho.RoH2029and utteringוְהֹג֛וֹve.ho.GoH1897from the heartמִלֵּ֖בmi.LevH3820wordsדִּבְרֵי־div.rei-H1697of falsehoodשָֽׁקֶר׃Sha.kerH8267.

14And judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֔טmish.PatH4941is turned awayוְהֻסַּ֤גve.hu.SagH5253backwardאָחוֹר֙'a.chOrH268,and justiceוּצְדָקָ֖הu.tze.da.KahH6666standethתַּעֲמֹ֑דta.'a.ModH5975afar offמֵרָח֣וֹקme.ra.ChokH7350:for truthאֱמֶ֔ת'e.MetH571is fallenכָשְׁלָ֤הkha.she.LahH3782in the streetבָֽרְחוֹב֙va.re.chOvH7339,and equityוּנְכֹחָ֖הu.ne.kho.ChahH5229cannotתוּכַ֥לtu.KhalH3201enterלָבֽוֹא׃la.Vo'H935.

15Yea, truthהָֽאֱמֶת֙ha.'e.MetH571failethנֶעְדֶּ֔רֶתne'.De.retH5737; and he thatdepartethוְסָ֥רve.SarH5493from evilמֵרָ֖עme.Ra'H7451maketh himself a preyמִשְׁתּוֹלֵ֑לmish.to.LelH7997:And Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068sawוַיַּ֧רְאvai.Yar'H7200it,and it displeasedבְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.NavH5869 H3415him that there wasno judgmentמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941.

16And he sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200that there wasno manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,and wonderedוַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖םvai.yish.to.MemH8074that there wasno intercessorמַפְגִּ֑יעַmaf.Gi.a'H6293:therefore his armזְרֹע֔וֹze.ro.'OH2220brought salvationוַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁעva.To.o.sha'H3467unto him; and his righteousnessוְצִדְקָת֖וֹve.tzid.ka.ToH6666,it sustainedסְמָכָֽתְהוּ׃se.ma.Kha.te.huH5564him.

17For he put onוַיִּלְבַּ֤שׁvai.yil.BashH3847righteousnessצְדָקָה֙tze.da.KahH6666as a breastplateכַּשִּׁרְיָ֔ןka.shir.YanH8302,and an helmetוְכ֥וֹבַעve.Khoa'H3553of salvationיְשׁוּעָ֖הye.shu.'AhH3444upon his headבְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹbe.ro.ShoH7218;and he put onוַיִּלְבַּ֞שׁvai.yil.BashH3847the garmentsבִּגְדֵ֤יbig.DeiH899of vengeanceנָקָם֙na.KamH5359forclothingתִּלְבֹּ֔שֶׁתtil.Bo.shetH8516,and was cladוַיַּ֥עַטvai.Ya.'atH5844with zealקִנְאָֽה׃kin.'AhH7068as a clokeכַּמְעִ֖ילkam.'IlH4598.

18According toH5921theirdeedsגְּמֻלוֹת֙ge.mu.lOtH1578,accordingly he will repayיְשַׁלֵּ֔םye.sha.LemH7999,furyחֵמָ֣הche.MahH2534to his adversariesלְצָרָ֔יוle.tza.RavH6862,recompenceגְּמ֖וּלge.MulH1576to his enemiesלְאֹֽיְבָ֑יוle.'o.ye.VavH341;to the islandsלָאִיִּ֖יםla.'i.YimH339he will repayיְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ye.sha.LemH7999recompenceגְּמ֥וּלge.MulH1576.

19So shall they fearוְיִֽירְא֤וּve.yi.re.'UH3372the nameשֵׁ֣םshemH8034of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068from the westמִֽמַּעֲרָב֙mi.ma.'a.RavH4628,and his gloryכְּבוֹד֑וֹke.vo.DoH3519from the risingוּמִמִּזְרַח־u.mi.miz.rach-H4217of the sunשֶׁ֖מֶשׁShe.meshH8121.When the enemyצָ֔רTzarH6862shall come inיָב֤וֹאya.Vo'H935like a floodכַנָּהָר֙kha.na.HarH5104,the Spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068shall lift up a standardנֹ֥סְסָהNo.se.sahH5127against him to put him to flight.

20And the Redeemerגּוֹאֵ֔לgo.'ElH1350shall comeוּבָ֤אu.Va'H935to Zionלְצִיּוֹן֙le.tzi.yOnH6726,and unto them that turnוּלְשָׁבֵ֥יu.le.sha.VeiH7725from transgressionפֶ֖שַׁעFe.sha'H6588in Jacobבְּיַֽעֲקֹ֑בbe.ya.'a.KoH3290,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

21As for me, this ismy covenantבְּרִיתִ֤יbe.ri.TiH1285with them, saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;My spiritרוּחִי֙ru.ChiH7307that isupon thee, and my wordsוּדְבָרַ֖יu.de.va.RaiH1697which I have putשַׂ֣מְתִּיSam.tiH7760in thy mouthבְּפִ֑יךָbe.Fi.khaH6310,shall not departיָמ֡וּשׁוּya.Mu.shuH4185out of thy mouthמִפִּיךָ֩mi.pi.KhaH6310,nor out of the mouthוּמִפִּ֨יu.mi.PiH6310of thy seedזַרְעֲךָ֜zar.'a.KhaH2233,nor out of the mouthוּמִפִּ֨יu.mi.PiH6310of thy seed’sזֶ֤רַעZe.ra'H2233seedזַרְעֲךָ֙zar.'a.KhaH2233,saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,from henceforth and forוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704everעוֹלָֽם׃ סo.LamH5769.

Commentaries on Isaiah 59