Isaiah 59:8

Only God’s love can provide real happiness. People who live wicked lives can never enjoy real happiness. That is not God’s fault, but their own. Evil actions can never produce anything good.

People confess their wicked deeds

v9 Now we realise why we get no fair decisions. And why right things do not happen. It was as if we were expecting light on our path to show us where to go. But there was only darkness. It was as if we expected the dawn of a new day. That is, a new and happier beginning. But the night continued. v10 We were like blind people who felt for the wall. We tripped at midday, as if the poor light of late evening had already arrived. We were living in darkness, as if we were already dead. We had no energy, unlike strong young men. v11 We were afraid and miserable. We were desperately wanting God to free us from our enemies. But nothing happened. v12 It is all because we have neglected to obey you so often. Our evil deeds are clear evidence against us. We realise that we have not carried out your instructions. We know our crimes against you. v13 We know that we have not obeyed you. We have not been loyal to the *Lord our God. We know that we have acted as enemies against God. We know how unfairly we act towards other people. We carefully work out the lies that we intend to tell. v14 Our courts are unfair to honest people. Truth no longer exists. And honest attitudes are unknown. v15 Yes, truth has disappeared. And anybody who tries to live a better life soon suffers attack. The *Lord saw all these evil actions that went on. And he was angry that nobody opposed these wicked practices.