Isaiah 9:17
Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
ISAIAH 9:17
This verse layers a somber diagnosis: “no joy in their young men,” and extended suffering for the vulnerable because of widespread hypocrisy and evil. The imagery of everyone becoming hypocrites, evildoers, and folly-speakers paints a society deeply distorted by sin. Even amid such deep corruption, the verse again notes that God’s anger remains, yet His hand is stretched out still—holding out a possibility of repentance.
The passage highlights God’s longing for righteousness and His punitive zeal against systemic vice. It also marks the spiritual state that leads to social breakdown: hypocrisy and deceit breed collapse. Yet the persistence of God’s mercy—still stretched out—points to His stubborn hope for repentance.
Face the need for personal and communal repentance. Where is hypocrisy present in your life or your community? Practical steps: align actions with words, speak truth with love, and pursue integrity in all relationships. For leaders, set a culture where truth-telling and accountability are valued, and where mercy accompanies correction.
Cross-References
- Luke 11:37-44
- James 1:22-25
- Micah 6:8
- Isaiah 1:11-17
- Romans 12:9-18