Isaiah 26:8-9

26:8 Yes, as your judgments unfold, ¹ 

O Lord, we wait for you.

We desire your fame and reputation to grow. ² 

26:9 I ³  look for ⁴  you during the night,

my spirit within me seeks you at dawn,

for when your judgments come upon the earth,

those who live in the world learn about justice. ⁵ 

[26:8]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text has, “yes, the way of your judgments.” The translation assumes that “way” is related to the verb “we wait” as an adverbial accusative (“in the way of your judgments we wait”). מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ (mishpatekha, “your judgments”) could refer to the Lord’s commandments, in which case one might translate, “as we obey your commands.” However, in verse 9 the same form refers to divine acts of judgment on evildoers.

[26:8]  ² tn Heb “your name and your remembrance [is] the desire of [our?] being.”

[26:9]  ³ tn Heb “with my soul I.” This is a figure for the speaker himself (“I”).

[26:9]  ⁴ tn Or “long for, desire.” The speaker acknowledges that he is eager to see God come in judgment (see vv. 8, 9b).

[26:9]  ⁵ tn The translation understands צֶדֶק (tsedeq) in the sense of “justice,” but it is possible that it carries the nuance “righteousness,” in which case one might translate, “those who live in the world learn to live in a righteous manner” (cf. NCV).