TRV
Translation
King James Version
Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
Complete Jewish Bible
Honesty is lacking, he who leaves evil becomes a target. ADONAI saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
Berean Standard Bible
Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
American Standard Version
Yea, truth is lacking; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And Jehovah saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
World English Bible Messianic
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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Yea, trueth faileth, and hee that refraineth from euill, maketh himselfe a praye: and when the Lord sawe it, it displeased him, that there was no iudgement.
Young's Literal Translation
And the truth is lacking, And whoso is turning aside from evil, Is making himself a spoil. And Jehovah seeth, and it is evil in His eyes, That there is no judgment.
In the KJVVerse 18,816 of 31,102
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Commentary on Isaiah 59 verses 9–15
9 ¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
The scope of this paragraph is the same with that of the last, to show that sin is the great mischief-maker; as it is that which keeps good things from us, so it is that which brings evil things upon us. But as there it is spoken by the prophet, in God's name, to the people, for their conviction and humiliation, and that God might be justified when he speaks and clear when he judges, so here it seems to be spoken by the people to God, as an acknowledgment of that which was there told them and an expression of their humble submission and subscription to the justice and equity of God's proceedings against them. Their uncircumcised hearts here seem to be humbled in some measure, and they are brought to confess (the confession is at least extorted from them), that God had justly walked contrary to them, because they had walked contrary to him.
I. They acknowledge that God had contended with them and had walked contrary to them. Their case was very deplorable, Isa 59:9-11. 1. They were in distress, trampled upon and oppressed by their enemies, unjustly dealt with, and ruled with rigour; and God did not appear for them, to plead their just and injured cause: "Judgment is far from us, neither does justice overtake us, Isa 59:9. Though, as to our persecutors, we are sure that we have right on our side; and they are the wrong-doers, yet we are not relieved, we are not righted. We have not done justice to one another, and therefore God suffers our enemies to deal thus unjustly with us, and we are as far as ever from being restored to our right and recovering our property again. Oppression is near us, and judgment is far from us. Our enemies are far from giving our case its due consideration, but still hurry us on with the violence of their oppressions, and justice does not overtake us, to rescue us out of their hands." 2. Herein their expectations were sadly disappointed, which made their case the more sad: "We wait for light as those that wait for the morning, but behold obscurity; we cannot discern the least dawning of the day of our deliverance. We look for judgment, but there is none (Isa 59:11); neither God nor man appears for our succour; we look for salvation, because God (we think) has promised it, and we have prayed for it with fasting; we look for it as for brightness, but it is far off from us, as far off as ever for aught we can perceive, and still we walk in darkness; and the higher our expectations have been raised the sorer is the disappointment." 3. They were quite at a loss what to do to help themselves and were at their wits' end (Isa 59:10): "We grope for the wall like the blind; we see no way open for our relief, nor know which way to expect it, or what to do in order to it." If we shut our eyes against the light of divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace; and, if we use not our eyes as we should, it is just with him to let us be as if we had no eyes. Those that will not see their duty shall not see their interest. Those whom God has given up to a judicial blindness are strangely infatuated; they stumble at noon-day as in the night; they see not either those dangers, or those advantages, which all about them see. Quos Deus vult perdere, eos dementat - God infatuates those whom he means to destroy. Those that love darkness rather than light shall have their doom accordingly. 4. They sunk into despair and were quite overwhelmed with grief, the marks of which appeared in every man's countenance; they grew melancholy upon it, shunned conversation, and affected solitude: We are in desolate places as dead men. The state of the Jews in Babylon is represented by dead and dry bones (Eze 37:12) and the explanation of the comparison there (Isa 59:11) explains this text: Our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. In this despair the sorrow and anguish of some were loud and noisy: We roar like bears; the sorrow of others was silent, and preyed more upon their spirits: "We mourn sore like doves, like doves of the valleys; we mourn both for our iniquities (Eze 7:16) and for our calamities." Thus they owned that the hand of the Lord had gone out against them.
II. They acknowledge that they had provoked God thus to contend with them, that he had done right, for they had done wickedly, Isa 59:12-15. 1. They owned that they had sinned, and that to this day they were in a great trespass, as Ezra speaks (Ezr 10:10): "Our transgressions are with us; the guilt of them is upon us, the power of them prevails among us, we are not yet reformed, nor have we parted with our sins, though they have done so much mischief. Nay, our transgressions are multiplied; they are more numerous and more heinous than they have been formerly. Look which way we will, we cannot look off them; all places, all orders and degrees of men, are infected. The sense of our transgression is with us, as David said, My sin is ever before me; it is too plain to be denied or concealed, too bad to be excused or palliated. God is a witness to them: They are multiplied before thee, in thy sight, under thy eye. We are witnesses against ourselves: As for our iniquities, we know them, though we may have foolishly endeavoured to cover them. Nay, they themselves are witnesses: Our sins stare us in the face and testify against us, so many have they been and so deeply aggravated." 2. They owned the great evil and malignity of sin, of their sin; it is transgressing and lying against the Lord, v. 13. The sins of those that profess themselves God's people, and bear his name, are upon this account worse than the sins of others, that in transgressing they lie against the Lord, they falsely accuse him, they misrepresent and belie him, as if he had dealt hardly and unfairly with them; or they perfidiously break covenant with him and falsify their most sacred and solemn engagements to him, which is lying against him: it is departing away from our God, to whom we are bound as our God and to whom we ought to cleave with purpose of heart; from him we have departed, as the rebellious subject from his allegiance to his rightful prince, and the adulterous wife from the guide of her youth and the covenant of her God. 3. They owned that there was a general decay of moral honesty; and it is not strange that those who were false to their God were unfaithful to one another. They spoke oppression, declared openly for that, though it was a revolt from their God and a revolt from the truth, by the sacred bonds of which we should always be tied and held fast. They conceived and uttered words of falsehood. Many ill thing is conceived in the mind, yet is prudently stifled there, and not suffered to go any further; but these sinners were so impudent, so daring, that whatever wickedness they conceived, they gave it an imprimatur - a sanction, and made no difficulty of publishing it. To think an ill thing is bad, but to say it is much worse. Many a word of falsehood is uttered in haste, for want of consideration; but these were conceived and uttered, were uttered - deliberately and of malice prepense. They were words of falsehood, and yet they are said to be uttered from the heart, because, though they differed from the real sentiments of the heart and therefore were words of falsehood, yet they agreed with the malice and wickedness of the heart, and were the natural language of that; it was a double heart, Psa 12:2. Those who by the grace of God kept themselves free from these enormous crimes yet put themselves into the confession of sin, because members of that nation which was generally thus corrupted. 4. They owned that that was not done which might have been done to reform the land and to amend what was amiss, Isa 59:14. "Judgment, that should go forward, and bear down the opposition that is made to it, that should run in its course like a river, like a mighty stream, is turned away backward, a contrary course. The administration of justice has become but a cover to the greatest injustice. Judgment, that should check the proceedings of fraud and violence, is driven back, and so they go on triumphantly. Justice stands afar off, even from our courts of judicature, which are so crowded with the patrons of oppression that equity cannot enter, cannot have admission into the court, cannot be heard, or at least will not be heeded. Equity enters not into the unrighteous decrees which they decree, Isa 10:1. Truth is fallen in the street, and there she may lie to be trampled upon by every foot of pride, and she has never a friend that will lend a hand to help her up; yea, truth fails in common conversation, and in dealings between man and man, so that one knows not whom to believe nor whom to trust." 5. They owned that there was a prevailing enmity in men's minds to those that were good: He that does evil goes unpunished, but he that departs from evil makes himself a prey to those beasts of prey that were before described. It is crime enough with them for a man not to do as they do, and they treat him as an enemy who will not partake with them in their wickedness. He that departs from evil is accounted mad; so the margin reads. Sober singularity is branded as folly, and he is thought next door to a madman who swims against the stream that runs so strongly. 6. They owned that all this could not but be very displeasing to the God of heaven. The evil was done in his sight. They knew very well, though they were not willing to acknowledge it, that the Lord saw it; though it was done secretly, and gilded over with specious pretences, yet it could not be concealed from his all-seeing eye. All the wickedness that is in the world is naked and open before the eyes of God; and, as he is of quicker eyes than not to see iniquity, so he is of purer eyes than to behold it with the least approbation or allowance. He saw it, and it displeased him, though it was among his own professing people that he saw it. It was evil in his eyes; he saw the sinfulness of all this sin, and that which was most offensive to him was that there was no judgment, no reformation; had he seen any signs of repentance, though the sin displeased him, he would soon have been reconciled to the sinners upon their returning from their evil way. Then the sin of a nation becomes national, and brings public judgments, when it is not restrained by public justice.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–15. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Ver. 12 seqq.) Our iniquities have multiplied before you, and our sins have answered us: for our crimes are with us, and we know our iniquities. To sin and lie against the Lord: and we turned away, so as not to go after the back of our Lord, to speak calumny, and we conceived transgression, and we spoke deceitful words from the heart. And judgment has been turned away backwards, and justice has stood far off, for truth has fallen down in the street, and equity could not enter. And truth has been turned into forgetfulness, and those who have turned away from evil have become a prey. LXX: For our iniquity is great in your sight, and our sins have held us back. For our iniquities are within us, and we have acknowledged our injustices. We have acted impiously, and we have lied, and we have turned away from our God. We have spoken wickedly and we have been disobedient. We have conceived and contemplated wicked words in our hearts. And we have gone away from judgement, and justice stands far away, because truth has been consumed in their ways, and they were not able to pass through the straight path. And truth has been taken away, and they have turned their mind so that they do not understand. They roar like bears; they meditate like doves; they wait for judgment that is not there, and salvation has passed on to the nations. For our iniquities have multiplied, saying, our iniquities are before you, from whom you have turned away your face for a long time, so that you would not see them, nor strike us. And our sins have answered against us, so that we receive what we deserve. And our crimes are with us: we have recognized our injustices, which we used to think were righteousness for a long time. But what are these injustices? To sin and to lie against God: or as Aquila translated according to the Hebrew, to deny God: which refers to the Savior. And they say: We have abandoned our God, saying: We know that God spoke to Moses: but we do not know where this one comes from (John 9:29), so that we may speak false accusations, If this man were from God, he would not break the Sabbath (Ibid., 16). And he cast out devils from the prince of devils (Luke 11:15). And transgression, which is more significantly called apostasy in Greek, is when someone denies God and is accused of rebellion. We have conceived and spoken words of falsehood from the heart, despising the law of God and following the traditions of men, which they call second commandments, and which we have pretended in our heart. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off. For what part does justice have with iniquity? What fellowship does Christ have with Belial? Righteousness has stood among the nations and has departed from us, for truth has fallen in the squares. For the way that leads to death is wide and spacious (Matthew 7), for they refused to enter the narrow path where truth resides. And truth has been forgotten, as it is written: Truth has sprung up from the earth, and righteousness has looked down from heaven (Psalm 85:12). It should be noted that the truth is frequently mentioned in order to show the person of Christ, whom they abandoned and followed falsehood. And he who departed from evil was exposed to plunder. Although this may seem obscure, it can be explained as follows: when we fabricate lies from our own hearts and abandon God's law, righteousness remains far away, and truth falls in the streets, and fairness cannot enter us, and the Son of God, who is the truth, is forgotten: to such an extent that whoever desires to depart from the traditions of the Jews immediately becomes exposed to snares and persecutions, so that they expelled the man blind from birth who received sight from the synagogues (John 9). And after the resurrection of the Lord Savior, all those who believed in him were persecuted and stripped: to whom the ministries of the Church were directed, which were distributed through the hands of the Apostles to the whole world of the nations.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 18:59.15
He has shown how truth has departed: they did not want to consider their duty, he says, but they have distorted their intelligence so as not to understand what ought to be done and what is useful. “The truth in this has disappeared, and the person who turned away from evil has been besieged.” They have distanced themselves so far from the truth that they openly combat those who turn away from perversity and choose the good.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 59:15 presents a stark and lamentable portrait of a society in profound moral and spiritual decline, where truth has become elusive and integrity a dangerous liability. The prophet vividly depicts a world so corrupted that anyone choosing to live righteously, departing from the pervasive evil, finds themselves vulnerable to exploitation and persecution. This dire state, characterized by a systemic absence of justice and accountability, is not hidden from God; the verse powerfully conveys that the LORD observes this widespread moral decay and is deeply displeased by the utter lack of righteous judgment among His people.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 59:15 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of widespread societal decay and the divine response. The phrase "truth faileth" utilizes Personification, attributing human action (failing, disappearing, or being found wanting) to an abstract concept (truth), thereby making its absence more vivid and impactful, underscoring the profound moral vacuum. There is a palpable tone of Lament throughout the prophet's expression, conveying deep sorrow and despair over the nation's spiritual and moral state. The statement that one who "departeth from evil maketh himself a prey" employs striking Irony, as the expected positive outcome of righteousness (blessing, protection, honor) is tragically inverted, leading instead to vulnerability and suffering. This also functions as a form of Hyperbole, emphasizing the extreme and perverse nature of the societal corruption where virtuous conduct is paradoxically punished. Finally, the description of God seeing and being "displeased" utilizes Anthropomorphism, attributing human-like sensory perception (seeing) and emotional reaction (displeasure, grief) to God. This makes His righteous indignation relatable and powerfully underscores His active, personal engagement with and profound concern for human affairs and justice.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 59:15 stands as a stark and enduring testament to the devastating consequences of a society that willfully abandons divine truth and justice. Theologically, it profoundly underscores God's unwavering commitment to righteousness and His deep, active grief over human sin and its pervasive, destructive effects. It reveals that God is not a distant or indifferent deity to the moral state of humanity; rather, He actively observes and is profoundly displeased when His holy standards are violated and justice is conspicuously absent. This verse powerfully sets the stage for God's own decisive intervention, demonstrating that when human systems and institutions utterly fail to administer judgment and uphold righteousness, divine judgment and sovereign action become not only necessary but inevitable. It also highlights the precarious and often perilous position of the righteous in a fallen world, who frequently face opposition, marginalization, or become vulnerable when they choose to live in accordance with God's ways. The absence of justice is thus not merely a social or political problem, but a profound theological offense that grieves the very heart of God, ultimately necessitating His redemptive and restorative action.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 59:15 remains profoundly relevant for contemporary society, serving as both a sober warning and a powerful source of encouragement for believers today. In an age where objective truth is frequently questioned, personal integrity is often compromised for expediency, and moral relativism gains widespread traction, the prophet's lament that "truth faileth" resonates deeply within our modern context. Believers may find themselves in situations where upholding biblical values, speaking inconvenient truths, or simply living with integrity makes them "a prey," facing ridicule, marginalization, professional disadvantage, or even outright persecution for their convictions. This verse reminds us that such challenges are not new phenomena; they are a recurring consequence when societies drift from God's established standards and embrace moral chaos. Yet, amidst this grim reality, the verse offers immense encouragement: God sees. His awareness is not passive or detached; His profound displeasure signifies His righteous character, His active involvement in human affairs, and His ultimate commitment to justice. Even when human systems fail and the righteous suffer, our divine call to live justly, pursue truth, and embody integrity remains paramount, knowing with certainty that the Lord Himself takes notice and will ultimately bring forth true judgment and redemption. Our steadfastness in truth, even at significant personal cost, serves as a powerful witness to a God who is deeply grieved by injustice and who will ultimately set all things right.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "truth faileth" imply that truth itself ceases to exist, or that it is merely absent from human practice?
Answer: The phrase "truth faileth" (Hebrew: ʼemeth H571, ʻădar H5737) does not imply that objective truth, as an eternal attribute of God, ceases to exist. Rather, it signifies that truth is "missing," "lacking," or "found wanting" within human society and conduct. It describes a profound moral and spiritual crisis where integrity, faithfulness, and adherence to divine standards have vanished from public and private life. God's truth, being an intrinsic part of His immutable character, remains eternally constant, but humanity's willingness to embrace, embody, and uphold it has failed, leading to widespread corruption, deceit, and injustice. The prophet laments the absence of truth in human affairs, not the non-existence of truth itself.
How does God's "displeasure" in this verse relate to His character of love and mercy?
Answer: God's "displeasure" (literally, "it was evil in His eyes," from yâraʻ H3415 and ʻayin H5869) in Isaiah 59:15 is a profound manifestation of His holy and righteous character, which is inherently just and good. His love and mercy are not antithetical to His displeasure over sin; rather, they are deeply intertwined expressions of His divine nature. God's love for humanity and His fervent desire for their flourishing compel Him to be grieved when they deviate from His righteous path, as such deviation inevitably leads to suffering, injustice, and brokenness. His displeasure is a righteous indignation against evil and a lament over the profound damage caused by sin. It is this very displeasure that often motivates His redemptive acts, as seen immediately in Isaiah 59:16. His justice is an expression of His perfect love for what is right and good, and His mercy is extended to those who turn from the evil that displeases Him, offering a path to reconciliation and restoration.
What does it mean for "he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey"?
Answer: This phrase vividly describes the perilous and inverted situation of a righteous individual in a profoundly corrupt society. When truth and justice are absent or perverted, those who choose to turn away from evil (çûwr H5493) and live righteously become vulnerable (shâlal H7997, "to plunder, make self a prey"). Instead of being protected, honored, or rewarded for their integrity, they are exposed to exploitation, mockery, persecution, or disadvantage. Their moral uprightness makes them stand out from the prevailing wickedness, potentially inviting opposition, ridicule, or even physical harm from those who thrive in the corrupt environment. It highlights a profound moral inversion where good is punished and evil is rewarded, emphasizing the dire need for divine intervention and the establishment of true and righteous judgment.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 59:15, with its stark portrayal of a world where truth fails and the righteous are made a prey due to the pervasive absence of judgment, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of Truth (John 14:6), the one in whom all integrity, faithfulness, and divine righteousness perfectly reside. Yet, in a world steeped in the very corruption and moral decay that Isaiah lamented, Jesus, the perfectly righteous one, was indeed "made a prey." He was unjustly accused, mocked, persecuted, and ultimately crucified, precisely because He perfectly departed from evil and perfectly upheld God's holy standards, without sin (1 Peter 2:22-24). The world, unable to tolerate His blinding light and uncompromising truth, sought to extinguish it. However, the Lord's profound displeasure at the lack of judgment, as seen in Isaiah 59:15, finds its glorious redemptive answer in Christ. God "saw it" and acted decisively, not by finding another fallible human intercessor, but by sending His own Son to be the ultimate Judge and the Savior (John 5:22). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ took the judgment for our sin, bearing the full weight of God's righteous displeasure. Through His triumphant resurrection, He established the unshakeable foundation for true justice and righteousness to prevail. He is the one who will ultimately return to bring forth perfect judgment, ensuring that truth will no longer fail and the righteous will never again be made a prey, but will reign with Him in His eternal kingdom of perfect justice and peace (Revelation 19:11).