9. Therefore is justice far from us,and righteousness doesn’t overtake us.We look for light, but see darkness;for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
10. We grope for the wall like the blind.Yes, we grope as those who have no eyes.We stumble at noon as if it were twilight.Amongst those who are strong, we are like dead men.
11. We all roar like bears,and moan bitterly like doves.We look for justice, but there is none;for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12. For our transgressions are multiplied before you,and our sins testify against us;for our transgressions are with us,and as for our iniquities, we know them:
13. transgressing and denying the Lord,and turning away from following our God,speaking oppression and revolt,conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14. Justice is turned away backward,and righteousness stands far away;for truth has fallen in the street,and uprightness can’t enter.
15. Yes, truth is lacking;and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.The Lord saw it,and it displeased him that there was no justice.
16. He saw that there was no man,and wondered that there was no intercessor.Therefore his own arm brought salvation to him;and his righteousness sustained him.
17. He put on righteousness as a breastplate,and a helmet of salvation on his head.He put on garments of vengeance for clothing,and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
18. According to their deeds,he will repay as appropriate,wrath to his adversaries,recompense to his enemies;he will repay the islands their due.