From Ken Wytsma (The Myth of Equality, p.107):
"The first thing we can distill from this passage [Isaiah 54:17-19] is a definition of justice. The passage beings by using justice and righteousness as synonyms in a format called Hebrew parallelism. In this format, a second phrase underscores and furthers what is said directly prior so that, in an oral culture, an audience will more fully understand the force of a stated truth. For the oral culture, this is equivalent to using boldface and italics.
"There are over thirty-four places where justice and righteousness are used synonymously in Scripture. For example, Proverbs 8:20: 'I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice.' The relationship of the two words is strong; when originally use in the English translations of the Bible, they meant the same thing - roughly, the right relationship between God, self, others, and creation.
"There is a misunderstanding associated with many contemporary translations. The Greek word dikaiosyne is variously translated as 'righteousness' or 'justice.' Where it is translated 'righteousness,' we tend to infer that the passage is talking about moral purity; when it's translated 'justice," we think of right relationships, fairness and equality. But the Greek of the New Testament had just this single word, and its usage almost invariably involved all of these concepts rolled into one. This subtle false dichotomy comes into sharper view when we look at Spanish translations of the Bible. There is no Spanish word for 'righteousness,' so, like the Greek text, it uses one word to cover the large space of our right relationship with God and others. That word is justicia."
I was approached recently by a worship leader for a song idea about who God is in the pursuit of this type of justice. I suggested "Rey de Justicia" by the Mexican worship group En Espiritu Y En Verdad. The song is straight-forward and is a dramatic ballad. Lyrics and English translation below:
Rey de justicia
Rey de verdad
Rey de salvación
Rey de salvación
Yo quiero subir
Al monte de sión
Contigo habitar
Por la eternidad
Tu abriste el camino
Que lleva hacia el padre
Entregaste tu vida
Derramaste tu sangre
Marcaste la historia
Con tu salvación
Quitando el pecado
Que nos separo
Establece tu reino
En nuestras vidas
Asienta tu trono
En nuestros corazones
Y abriste el camino
Que lleva hacia el padre
Entregaste tu vida
Derramaste tu sangre
English translation:
King of justice
King of truth
King of salvation
King of salvation
I want to go up
To the mount of Zion
With you, live for eternity
You opened the way
That leads to the Father
You gave your life
You spilled your blood
You marked the story
With your salvation
Taking away sin
That separated us
Set your kingdom
In our lives
Be seated on your throne
In our hearts