Isaiah 59:14

Isaiah 59:14

And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

a. NLT: Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed.

b. NIV: So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.

c. YLT: And removed backward is judgment, And righteousness afar off standeth, For truth hath been feeble in the street, And straightforwardness is not able to enter,

d. Amplified Bible: Justice is pushed back, And righteous behavior stands far away; For truth has fallen in the city square, And integrity cannot enter.

e. Septuagint: And we have turned judgment back, and righteousness has departed afar off: for truth is consumed in their ways, and they could not pass by a straight [path]. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Thus justice has been withdrawn and righteousness stands at a distance; because truth has stumbled in the street, and integrity cannot enter.

1. “And judgment is turned away backward…”

a. judgment [4941 * mishpat] [Strong: from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.

b. turned away [5253 * nacag naw-sag' a primitive root; to retreat:--departing away, remove, take (hold), turn away.]

c. backward [268 * 'achowr, or (shortened) achor] [Strong: from 299; the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West:--after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without.]

2. “…and justice standeth afar off…”

a. and justice [6666 *  tsdaqah] [Strong: from 6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity):--justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).]

b. standeth 5975 * `amad] [Strong: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive):--abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-)stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.]

c. afar off [7350 * rachowq, or rachoq] [Strong: from 7368; remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition):--(a-)far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.]

3. “…for truth is fallen in the street…”

a. truth [571 * 'emeth] [Strong: contracted from 539; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness:--assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.]

b. is fallen [3782 *  kashal] [Strong: a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall:--bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, X utterly, be weak.]

c. in the street [7339 * rchob, or rchowb] [Strong: from 7337; a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area:--broad place (way), street.]

4. “…and equity cannot enter.”

a. and equity [5229 * nkochah] [Strong: feminine of 5228; properly, straightforwardness, i.e. (figuratively) integrity, or (concretely) a truth:--equity, right (thing), uprightness.]

b. cannot [3201 * yakol, or (fuller) yakowl] [Strong: a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might):--be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.]

c. enter [935 * bow'] [Strong: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.]