Isaiah 59:1-2

A Confession of National Wickedness

59¹ Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. ² But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

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Isaiah 59

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Other Translations of Isaiah 59:1-2

King James Version

A Confession of National Wickedness

59¹ Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: ² But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid have hid: or, have made him hide his face from you, that he will not hear.

English Standard Version

A Confession of National Wickedness

59¹ Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; ² but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

The Message

A Confession of National Wickedness

59¹ Look! Listen! God's arm is not amputated - he can still save. God's ears are not stopped up - he can still hear. ² There's nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you. Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God. Your sins got between you so that he doesn't hear.

New King James Version

A Confession of National Wickedness

59¹ Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. ² But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

New Living Translation

A Confession of National Wickedness

59¹ Listen! The Lord 's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. ² It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 59:1-2

Commentary on Isaiah 59:1-8

(Read Isaiah 59:1-8)

If our prayers are not answered, and the salvation we wait for is not wrought for us, it is not because God is weary of hearing prayer, but because we are weary of praying. See here sin in true colours, exceedingly sinful; and see sin in its consequences, exceedingly hurtful, separating from God, and so separating us, not only from all good, but to all evil. Yet numbers feed, to their own destruction, on infidel and wicked systems. Nor can their skill or craft, in devising schemes, as the spider weaves its web, deliver or save them. No schemes of self-wrought salvation shall avail those who despise the Redeemer's robe of righteousness. Every man who is destitute of the Spirit of Christ, runs swiftly to evil of some sort; but those regardless of Divine truth and justice, are strangers to peace.