9. Because of all this, justice is far from us,and righteousness beyond our reach.We expect light, and there is darkness;we await a gleam of light, but walk about in gloom.
10. We grope along the wall like the blind;like those without eyes we grope.We stumble at noonday as if it were twilight,and among the strong as if we were dying.
11. All of us growl like bears,and like doves we moan.We expect justice, but there is none;we await salvation, but it is far from us.
12. Our rebellions are numerous in your presence;our sins testify against us.Our rebellions are with us;we’re aware of our guilt:
13. defying and denying the Lord, turning away from our God,planning oppression and revolt,muttering lying words conceived in our minds.
14. Justice is pushed aside;righteousness stands far off,because truth has stumbled in the public square,and honesty can’t enter.
15. Truth is missing;anyone turning from evil is plundered.The Lord looked and was upset at the absence of justice.
16. Seeing that there was no one,and astonished that no one would intervene,God’s arm brought victory,upheld by righteousness,
17. putting on righteousness as armorand a helmet of salvation on his head,putting on garments of vengeance,and wrapping himself in a cloak of zeal.
18. God will repay according to their actions:wrath to his foes, retribution to enemies,retribution to the coastlands,
19. so those in the west will fear the Lord’s name,and those in the east will fear God’s glory.It will come like a rushing riverthat the Lord’s wind drives on.
20. A redeemer will come to Zionand to those in Jacob who stop rebelling,says the Lord.
21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord.My spirit, which is upon you,and my words, which I have placed in your mouthwon’t depart from your mouth,nor from the mouths of your descendants,nor from the mouths of your descendants’ children,says the Lord, forever and always.