ישעיהו, פרק נ״ט, פסוק י״ד

The moral collapse of a society begins when truth fails in the public square. Once truth is compromised, justice, fairness, and salvation inevitably slip away. The primary approach among commentators is that this breakdown reflects a human and social deterioration. The rational legal system that governs daily interactions is actively pushed away, while acts of kindness, charity to the poor, and duties toward God refuse to draw near. Conversely, another perspective views these elements as Divine actions. Justice represents the retribution God is meant to bring upon enemy nations, and righteousness is His promised salvation for Israel. Both of these Divine responses are delayed and withheld from Heaven [רש״י, מצודת דוד].

The root cause for the departure of justice and righteousness is that truth—the very foundation of law, society, and faith—has lost its power and collapsed. This failure occurs specifically in the streets, highlighting the severity of the crisis. The public square is exactly where truth should be clear to everyone, yet it is openly dominated by deceit as people intentionally subvert what is right [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Left weak and discarded outside, truth is unable to even find its way into private homes [שד״ל]. Still, some note that truth has only failed in the public eye; truthful individuals continue to exist in secret, forced into hiding because they are despised by society [רד״ק]. The direct result of this public fall is a complete systemic collapse. Without truth, earthly courts cannot function, and when truth vanishes from the earth, God's justice is halted from Heaven [רש״י, מלבי״ם].

Following this collapse, simple honesty and fairness can no longer exist. People stop speaking sincerely and directly to one another, abandoning the basic command to love their neighbors [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. On a deeper level, there is a distinction between basic human honesty and a higher spiritual uprightness, which involves directing one's life before God according to His will. Once natural, simple truth falls apart, this higher spiritual guidance of faith and holiness is completely blocked from entering and influencing a person [מלבי״ם].