Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 40

1Comfortנַחֲמ֥וּna.cha.MuH5162ye, comfortנַחֲמ֖וּna.cha.MuH5162ye my peopleעַמִּ֑י'a.MiH5971,saithיֹאמַ֖רyo.MarH559your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

2Speakדַּבְּר֞וּda.be.RuH1696ye comfortablyלֵ֤בlevH3820to Jerusalemיְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389,and cryוְקִרְא֣וּve.kir.'UH7121unto her, that her warfareצְבָאָ֔הּtze.va.'AhH6635is accomplishedמָֽלְאָה֙mal.'AhH4390,that her iniquityעֲוֹנָ֑הּ'a.vo.NahH5771is pardonedנִרְצָ֖הnir.TzahH7521:for she hath receivedלָקְחָה֙la.ke.ChahH3947of Yhwh'sיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068handמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027doubleכִּפְלַ֖יִםkif.La.yimH3718for all her sinsחַטֹּאתֶֽיהָ׃ סcha.to.Tei.haH2403.

3The voiceק֣וֹלKolH6963of him that criethקוֹרֵ֔אko.Re'H7121in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֕רba.mid.BarH4057,Prepareפַּנּ֖וּpa.NuH6437ye the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,make straightיַשְּׁרוּ֙ya.she.RuH3474in the desertבָּעֲרָבָ֔הba.'a.ra.VahH6160a highwayמְסִלָּ֖הme.si.LahH4546for our Godלֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃le.lo.Hei.nuH430.

4Every valleyגֶּיא֙gei'H1516shall be exaltedיִנָּשֵׂ֔אyi.na.Se'H5375,and every mountainהַ֥רharH2022and hillוְגִבְעָ֖הve.giv.'AhH1389shall be made lowיִשְׁפָּ֑לוּyish.Pa.luH8213:and the crookedהֶֽעָקֹב֙he.'a.KoH6121shall be made straightלְמִישׁ֔וֹרle.mi.ShorH4334,and the rough placesוְהָרְכָסִ֖יםve.ha.re.kha.SimH7406plainלְבִקְעָֽה׃le.vik.'AhH1237:

5And the gloryכְּב֣וֹדke.VodH3519of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068shall be revealedוְנִגְלָ֖הve.nig.LahH1540,and all fleshבָּשָׂר֙ba.SarH1320shall seeוְרָא֤וּve.ra.'UH7200ittogetherיַחְדָּ֔וyach.DavH3162:for the mouthפִּ֥יpiH6310of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068hath spokenדִּבֵּֽר׃ סdi.BerH1696it.

6The voiceק֚וֹלKolH6963saidאֹמֵ֣ר'o.MerH559,Cryקְרָ֔אke.Ra'H7121.And he saidוְאָמַ֖רve.'a.MarH559,What shall I cryאֶקְרָ֑א'ek.Ra'H7121?All fleshהַבָּשָׂ֣רha.ba.SarH1320isgrassחָצִ֔ירcha.TzirH2682,and all the goodlinessחַסְדּ֖וֹchas.DoH2617thereof isas the flowerכְּצִ֥יץke.TzitzH6731of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ha.sa.DehH7704:

7The grassחָצִיר֙cha.TzirH2682witherethיָבֵ֤שׁya.VeshH3001,the flowerצִ֔יץTzitzH6731fadethנָ֣בֵֽלNa.velH5034:because the spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068blowethנָ֣שְׁבָהNa.she.vahH5380upon it: surelyאָכֵ֥ן'a.KhenH403the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971isgrassחָצִ֖ירcha.TzirH2682.

8The grassחָצִ֖ירcha.TzirH2682witherethיָבֵ֥שׁya.VeshH3001,the flowerצִ֑יץTzitzH6731fadethנָ֣בֵֽלNa.velH5034:but the wordוּדְבַר־u.de.var-H1697of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430shall standיָק֥וּםya.KumH6965for everלְעוֹלָֽם׃ סle.'o.LamH5769.

9O Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726,that bringest good tidingsמְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶתme.va.Se.retH1319,get thee upעֲלִי־'a.li-H5927into the highגָּבֹ֤הַga.Vo.haH1364mountainהַר־har-H2022;O Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,that bringest good tidingsמְבַשֶּׂ֖רֶתme.va.Se.retH1319,lift upהָרִ֤ימִיha.Ri.miH7311thy voiceקוֹלֵ֔ךְko.LekhH6963with strengthבַכֹּ֙חַ֙va.Ko.achH3581; lift itupהָרִ֙ימִי֙ha.Ri.miH7311,be not afraidתִּירָ֔אִיti.Ra.'iH3372;sayאִמְרִי֙'im.RiH559unto the citiesלְעָרֵ֣יle.'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063,Behold your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430!

10Behold, the Lordאֲדֹנָ֤י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִה֙Yah.wehH3069will comeיָב֔וֹאya.Vo'H935with strongבְּחָזָ֣קbe.cha.ZakH2389hand,and his armוּזְרֹע֖וֹu.ze.ro.'OH2220shall ruleמֹ֣שְׁלָהMo.she.lahH4910for him: behold, his rewardשְׂכָרוֹ֙se.kha.RoH7939iswith him, and his workוּפְעֻלָּת֖וֹu.fe.'u.la.ToH6468beforeלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440him.

11He shall feedכְּרֹעֶה֙ke.ro.'EhH7462his flockעֶדְר֣וֹed.RoH5739like a shepherdיִרְעֶ֔הyir.'EhH7462:he shall gatherיְקַבֵּ֣ץye.ka.BetzH6908the lambsטְלָאִ֔יםte.la.'ImH2922with his armבִּזְרֹעוֹ֙biz.ro.'OH2220,and carryיִשָּׂ֑אyi.Sa'H5375themin his bosomוּבְחֵיק֖וֹu.ve.chei.KoH2436, andshall gently leadיְנַהֵֽל׃ סye.na.HelH5095those that are with youngעָל֖וֹתa.LotH5763.

12Who hath measuredמָדַ֨דma.DadH4058the watersמַ֗יִםMa.yimH4325in the hollow of his handבְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹbe.sho.'o.LoH8168,and meted outתִּכֵּ֔ןti.KenH8505heavenוְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ve.sha.Ma.yimH8064with the spanבַּזֶּ֣רֶתba.Ze.retH2239,and comprehendedוְכָ֥לve.kholH3557the dustעֲפַ֣ר'a.FarH6083of the earthהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776in a measureבַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁba.sha.LishH7991,and weighedוְשָׁקַ֤לve.sha.KalH8254the mountainsהָרִ֔יםha.RimH2022in scalesבַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ba.Pe.lesH6425,and the hillsוּגְבָע֖וֹתu.ge.va.'otH1389in a balanceבְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃be.mo.ze.Na.yimH3976?

13Who hath directedתִכֵּ֥ןti.KenH8505the Spiritר֖וּחַRu.achH7307of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068, or beinghis counsellorוְאִ֥ישׁ עֲצָת֖וֹve.'Ish a.tza.ToH6098 H376hath taughtיוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃yo.di.'E.nuH3045him?

14With whom took he counselנוֹעָץ֙no.'AtzH3289, and whoinstructedוַיְבִינֵ֔הוּvay.vi.Ne.huH995him, and taughtוַֽיְלַמְּדֵ֖הוּvay.la.me.De.huH3925him in the pathבְּאֹ֣רַחbe.'O.rachH734of judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֑טmish.PatH4941,and taughtוַיְלַמְּדֵ֣הוּvay.la.me.De.huH3925him knowledgeדַ֔עַתDa.'atH1847,and shewedיוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃yo.di.'E.nuH3045to him the wayוְדֶ֥רֶךְve.De.rekhH1870of understandingתְּבוּנ֖וֹתte.vu.NotH8394?

15Behold, the nationsגּוֹיִם֙go.YimH1471areas a dropכְּמַ֣רke.MarH4752of a bucketמִדְּלִ֔יmi.de.LiH1805,and are countedנֶחְשָׁ֑בוּnech.Sha.vuH2803as the small dustוּכְשַׁ֥חַקu.khe.Sha.chakH7834of the balanceמֹאזְנַ֖יִםmoz.Na.yimH3976:behold, he taketh upיִטּֽוֹל׃yi.TolH5190the islesאִיִּ֖ים'i.YimH339as a very little thingכַּדַּ֥קka.DakH1851.

16And Lebanonוּלְבָנ֕וֹןu.le.va.NonH3844isnotH369sufficientדֵּ֖יdeiH1767to burnבָּעֵ֑רba.'ErH1197,nor the beastsוְחַיָּת֔וֹve.chai.ya.ToH2416thereof sufficientדֵּ֖יdeiH1767for a burnt offeringעוֹלָֽה׃ סo.LahH5930.

17All nationsהַגּוֹיִ֖םha.go.YimH1471before him areas nothing; and they are countedנֶחְשְׁבוּ־nech.she.vu-H2803to him less than nothingמֵאֶ֥פֶסme.'E.fesH657,and vanityוָתֹ֖הוּva.To.huH8414.

18To whom then will ye likenתְּדַמְּי֣וּןte.da.me.YunH1819Godאֵ֑ל'ElH410?or what likenessדְּמ֖וּתde.MutH1823will ye compareתַּ֥עַרְכוּTa.'ar.khuH6186unto him?

19The workmanחָרָ֔שׁcha.RashH2796meltethנָסַ֣ךְna.SakhH5258a graven imageהַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ha.Pe.selH6459,and the goldsmithוְצֹרֵ֖ףve.tzo.RefH6884spreadethיְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּye.rak.ke.'E.nuH7554it over with goldבַּזָּהָ֣בba.za.HavH2091,and castethצוֹרֵֽף׃tzo.RefH6884silverכֶּ֖סֶףKe.sefH3701chainsוּרְתֻק֥וֹתu.re.tu.KotH7577.

20He that isso impoverishedהַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ןham.su.KanH5534 H5533that he hath no oblationתְּרוּמָ֔הte.ru.MahH8641choosethיִבְחָ֑רyiv.CharH977a treeעֵ֥ץ'etzH6086thatwill not rotיִרְקַ֖בyir.KavH7537;he seekethיְבַקֶּשׁ־ye.va.kesh-H1245unto him a cunningחָכָם֙cha.KhamH2450workmanחָרָ֤שׁcha.RashH2796to prepareלְהָכִ֥יןle.ha.KhinH3559a graven imageפֶּ֖סֶלPe.selH6459, thatshall not be movedיִמּֽוֹט׃yi.MotH4131.

21Have ye not knownתֵֽדְעוּ֙te.de.'UH3045?have ye not heardתִשְׁמָ֔עוּtish.Ma.'uH8085?hath it not been toldהֻגַּ֥דhu.GadH5046you from the beginningמֵרֹ֖אשׁme.RoshH7218?have ye not understoodהֲבִ֣ינֹתֶ֔םha.Vi.no.TemH995from the foundationsמוֹסְד֖וֹתmos.DotH4146of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776?

22It ishe that sittethהַיֹּשֵׁב֙hai.yo.ShevH3427upon the circleח֣וּגchugH2329of the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and the inhabitantsוְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָve.yo.she.Vei.haH3427thereof areas grasshoppersכַּחֲגָבִ֑יםka.cha.ga.VimH2284;that stretcheth outהַנּוֹטֶ֤הha.no.TehH5186the heavensשָׁמַ֔יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064as a curtainכַדֹּק֙kha.DokH1852,and spreadeth them outוַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥םvai.yim.ta.ChemH4969as a tentכָּאֹ֖הֶלka.'O.helH168to dwell inלָשָֽׁבֶת׃la.Sha.vetH3427:

23That bringethהַנּוֹתֵ֥ןha.no.TenH5414the princesרוֹזְנִ֖יםroz.NimH7336to nothing; he makethעָשָֽׂה׃'a.SahH6213the judgesשֹׁ֥פְטֵיSho.fe.teiH8199of the earthאֶ֖רֶץ'E.retzH776as vanityכַּתֹּ֥הוּka.To.huH8414.

24Yea, they shall not be plantedנִטָּ֗עוּni.Ta.'uH5193;yea, they shall not be sownזֹרָ֔עוּzo.Ra.'uH2232:yea, their stockגִּזְעָ֑םgiz.'AmH1503shall not take rootשֹׁרֵ֥שׁsho.ReshH8327in the earthבָּאָ֖רֶץba.'A.retzH776:and he shall also blowנָשַׁ֤ףna.ShafH5398upon them, and they shall witherוַיִּבָ֔שׁוּvai.yi.Va.shuH3001,and the whirlwindוּסְעָרָ֖הu.se.'a.RahH5591shall takeתִּשָּׂאֵֽם׃ סti.sa.'EmH5375them away as stubbleכַּקַּ֥שׁka.KashH7179.

25To whom then will ye likenתְדַמְּי֖וּנִיte.da.me.Yu.niH1819me, or shall I be equalוְאֶשְׁוֶ֑הve.'esh.VehH7737?saithיֹאמַ֖רyo.MarH559the Holy Oneקָדֽוֹשׁ׃ka.Do.oshH6918.

26Lift upשְׂאוּ־se.'u-H5375your eyesעֵינֵיכֶ֤ם'ei.nei.KhemH5869on highמָר֨וֹםma.RomH4791,and beholdוּרְאוּ֙u.re.'UH7200who hath createdבָרָ֣אva.Ra'H1254these things,that bringeth outהַמּוֹצִ֥יאha.mo.Tzi'H3318their hostצְבָאָ֑םtze.va.'AmH6635by numberבְמִסְפָּ֖רve.mis.ParH4557:he callethיִקְרָ֔אyik.Ra'H7121them all by namesבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034by the greatnessמֵרֹ֤בme.RoH7230of his mightאוֹנִים֙'o.NimH202, for that he isstrongוְאַמִּ֣יץve.'a.MitzH533in powerכֹּ֔חַKo.achH3581;not oneאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376failethנֶעְדָּֽר׃ סne'.DarH5737.

27Why sayestתֹאמַר֙to.MarH559thou, O Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and speakestוּתְדַבֵּ֖רu.te.da.BerH1696,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,My wayדַרְכִּי֙dar.KiH1870is hidנִסְתְּרָ֤הnis.te.RahH5641from Yhwhמֵֽיְהוָ֔הme.Yah.wehH3068,and my judgmentמִשְׁפָּטִ֥יmish.pa.TiH4941is passed overיַעֲבֽוֹר׃ya.'a.VorH5674from my Godוּמֵאֱלֹהַ֖יu.me.'e.lo.HaiH430?

28Hast thou not knownיָדַ֜עְתָּya.Da'.taH3045?hast thou not heardשָׁמַ֗עְתָּsha.Ma'.taH8085, thatthe everlastingעוֹלָ֤ם׀o.LamH5769Godאֱלֹהֵ֨י'e.lo.HeiH430,Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,the Creatorבּוֹרֵא֙bo.Re'H1254of the endsקְצ֣וֹתke.TzotH7098of the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,faintethיִיעַ֖ףyi.'AfH3286not, neither is wearyיִיגָ֑עyi.Ga'H3021? there isno searchingחֵ֖קֶרChe.kerH2714of his understandingלִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ׃lit.vu.na.ToH8394.

29He givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414powerכֹּ֑חַKo.achH3581to the faintלַיָּעֵ֖ףlai.ya.'EfH3287; and to them that haveno mightאוֹנִ֖ים'o.NimH202he increasethיַרְבֶּֽה׃yar.BehH7235strengthעָצְמָ֥ה'a.tze.MahH6109.

30Even the youthsנְעָרִ֖יםne.'a.RimH5288shall faintוְיִֽעֲפ֥וּve.yi.'a.FuH3286and be wearyוְיִגָ֑עוּve.yi.Ga.'uH3021,and the young menוּבַחוּרִ֖יםu.va.chu.RimH970shall utterlyכָּשׁ֥וֹלka.SholH3782fallיִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ׃yi.ka.She.luH3782:

31But they that waitוְקוֹיֵ֤ve.ko.YeH6960upon Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068shall renewיַחֲלִ֣יפוּya.cha.Li.fuH2498theirstrengthכֹ֔חַKho.achH3581;they shall mount upיַעֲל֥וּya.'a.LuH5927with wingsאֵ֖בֶר'E.verH83as eaglesכַּנְּשָׁרִ֑יםka.ne.sha.RimH5404;they shall runיָר֙וּצוּ֙ya.Ru.tzuH7323,and not be wearyיִיגָ֔עוּyi.Ga.'uH3021; andthey shall walkH3212,and not faintיִיעָֽפוּ׃ פyi.'A.fuH3286.

Commentaries on Isaiah 40