42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,
a dim wick he will not extinguish; 1
he will faithfully make just decrees. 2
43:17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, 3
together with a mighty army.
They fell down, 4 never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
1 sn The “crushed reed” and “dim wick” symbolize the weak and oppressed who are on the verge of extinction.
2 tn Heb “faithfully he will bring out justice” (cf. NASB, NRSV).
3 tn Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
4 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”