Isaiah 59:1-8

Contemporary English Version

Social Injustice Is Condemned

59 The Lord hasn't lost
    his powerful strength;
he can still hear
    and answer prayers.
²Your sins are the roadblock
    between you and your God.
That's why he doesn't answer
your prayers
    or let you see his face.

³Your talk is filled with lies
    and plans for violence;
every finger on your hands
    is covered with blood.
⁴You falsely accuse others
    and tell lies in court;
sin and trouble are the names
    of your children.
⁵You eat the deadly eggs
    of poisonous snakes,
and more snakes crawl out
    from the eggs left to hatch.
You weave spider webs,
⁶but you can't make clothes
    with those webs
    or hide behind them.

You're sinful and brutal.
⁷^(A) You hurry off to do wrong
    or murder innocent victims.
All you think about is sin;
you leave ruin and destruction
    wherever you go.
⁸You don't know how
to live in peace
    or to be fair with others.
The roads you make are crooked;
your followers cannot find peace.