And Restoration shall become thy name. CHAPTER LIX. JEHOVAH's hand is not contracted, that it cannot save, Nor are his ears become so dull, that they no hearing have; But you from God are separate by your iniquities, And for your sins he hides his face, and heareth not your cries. Your hands are all pollute with blood, your fingers dipt in sin, Your lips speak falsehood, and your words with wickedness begin: No one in justice pleads his suit, and no one seeketh right; In lies they trust, mischief conceive, and bring forth sin to light. They hatch the eggs of basilisks, the spider's web they rear: Their eggs are poison, and when crushed a viper will appear; Their webs shall no apparel make, their works afford no shade; Their works are sins, and in their hands is violence dis played. Their feet seek evil, and they haste the guiltless blood to shed; Their thoughts are crimes, and all their paths have to destruction led: The way of peace they do not know, and judgment there is none; Their paths are turned, he hath no peace who in those tracks hath gone. Therefore is judgment distant far, no justice findeth room. We look for light, we darkness have; for brightness, we have gloom; We, groping, seek the guiding wall, like those deprived of sight; We fail at mid-day as in shade among the caves of night; We groan like bears, and like the doves we make continual moan Salvation is removed from us, no justice have we known; Our sins are numbered in thy face, our crimes against us cry; Lo, these cleave fast, and we confess our deep iniquity, In our rebellions and our lies, our turnings from the Lord, Injurious speeches and revolts, and our hearts' evil word. Yea, righteousness is turned away, and equity stands back, For truth hath failed to tread the streets, and justice finds no track. Truth is departed utterly, and he who in the way Of evil counsel fears to walk, becomes the plunderer's prey. Jehovah saw, and his displeasure rose, He saw there was not one; He wondered that no arm would interpose. He that is mighty vengeance will requite, And recompense shall on his foes alight. Shall surely feel his hand; They from the west shall fear the mighty Lord, When he shall come, then shall his shining course My Spirit, saith the Lord, which rests on thee; |