Isaiah 51:4-6

Context

51:4 Pay attention to me, my people!

Listen to me, my people!

For¹ I will issue a decree,²

I will make my justice a light to the nations.³

51:5 I am ready to vindicate,⁴

I am ready to deliver,⁵

I will establish justice among the nations.⁶

The coastlands⁷ wait patiently for me;

they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power.⁸

51:6 Look up at the sky!

Look at the earth below!

For the sky will dissipate⁹ like smoke,

and the earth will wear out like clothes;

its residents will die like gnats.

But the deliverance I give¹⁰ is permanent;

the vindication I provide¹¹ will not disappear.¹²

[51:4] ¹tn Or “certainly.”

[51:4] ²tn Heb “instruction [or “a law”] will go out from me.”

[51:4] ³tn Heb “and my justice for a light to the nations I will cause to rest.”

[51:5] ⁴tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”] is near.”

[51:5] ⁵tn Heb “my deliverance goes forth.”

[51:5] ⁶tn Heb “and my arms will judge [on behalf of] nations.”

[51:5] ⁷tn Or “islands” (NIV); TEV “Distant lands.”

[51:5] ⁸tn Heb “for my arm” (so NIV, NRSV).

[51:6] ⁹tn Heb “will be torn in pieces.” The perfect indicates the certitude of the event, from the Lord’s rhetorical perspective.

[51:6] ¹⁰tn Heb “my deliverance.” The same Hebrew word can also be translated “salvation” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); cf. CEV “victory.”

[51:6] ¹¹tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”].”

[51:6] ¹²tn Heb “will not be shattered [or “dismayed”].”