42:2 He will not cry out or shout;
he will not publicize himself in the streets. 1
42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,
a dim wick he will not extinguish; 2
he will faithfully make just decrees. 3
42:4 He will not grow dim or be crushed 4
before establishing justice on the earth;
the coastlands 5 will wait in anticipation for his decrees.” 6
1 tn Heb “he will not cause his voice to be heard in the street.”
2 sn The “crushed reed” and “dim wick” symbolize the weak and oppressed who are on the verge of extinction.
3 tn Heb “faithfully he will bring out justice” (cf. NASB, NRSV).
3 tn For rhetorical effect the terms used to describe the “crushed (רָצַץ, ratsats) reed” and “dim (כָּהָה, kahah) wick” in v. 3 are repeated here.
4 tn Or “islands” (NIV); NLT “distant lands beyond the sea.”
5 tn Or “his law” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV) or “his instruction” (NLT).