Isaiah 59:12

“For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, &c.] Not only an increase of immorality among the people in common, but among professors of religion; and as their transgressions are committed against the Lord, so they are in his sight taken notice of and observed by him, are loathsome and abominable to him, and call aloud for his judgments on them: and our sins testify against us; God is a witness against us, in whose sight our sins are done; and our consciences are witnesses against us, which are as a thousand witnesses; and there is no denying facts; our sins stare us in the face, and we must confess our guilt: or, “our sins answer against us”f1165; as witnesses called and examined…”

“(Dan 9:5, &c.). thee . . . us--antithesis. with us--that is, we are conscious of them (Job 12:3, Margin; Job 15:9). know--acknowledge they are our iniquities.”

“Our sins testify against us - Hebrew, ‘Answer against us.’ The idea is, that their past lives had been so depraved that they became witnesses against them (compare the notes at Isaiah 3:9). We know them - We recognize them as our sins, and we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that we are transgressors. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Transgressions - The word here signifies sins of an high nature, such as wherein there is much of man's will against light: rebellious sins. Multiplied - They admit of no excuse; for they are acted before thee, and multiplied against thee, whereby thou art justly provoked to deny us all help. Testify - As so many witnesses produced proves our guilt. Are with us - Are still unforgiven. We know - We are convinced of them. Isaiah 59:13”

“our transgressions: Isa 1:4; Ezr 9:6; Jer 3:2, Jer 5:3-9, Jer 5:25-29, Jer 7:8-10; Eze 5:6, Eze 7:23, Eze 8:8-16; Eze 16:51, Eze 16:52, Eze 22:2-12, Eze 22:24-30, 23:2-49, Eze 24:6-14; Hos 4:2; Mat 23:32, Mat 23:33; Th1 2:15, Th1 2:16 our sins: Jer 14:7; Hos 5:5, Hos 7:10; Rom 3:19, Rom 3:20 we know: Ezr 9:13; Neh 9:33; Dan 9:5-8 Isaiah 59:13”

“The people have already indicated by על־כּן in Isa 59:9 that this benighted, hopeless state is the consequence of their prevailing sins; they now come back to this, and strike the note of penitence (viddui), which is easily recognised by the recurring rhymes ānu and ênu. The prophet makes the confession (as in Jer 14:19-20, cf., Isa 3:21.), standing at the head of the people as the leader of their prayer (ba‛al tephillâh): "For our transgressions are many before Thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are known to us, and our evil deeds well known: apostasy and denial of Jehovah, and turning back from following our God, oppressive and false speaking, receiving and…”