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:

Other Translations of Isaiah 59:1

New International Version

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.

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;

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.

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.

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.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 59:1

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.