Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 42

1Behold my servantעַבְדִּי֙'av.DiH5650,whom I upholdאֶתְמָךְ־'et.mokh-H8551;mine electבְּחִירִ֖יbe.chi.RiH972, in whommy soulנַפְשִׁ֑יnaf.ShiH5315delightethרָצְתָ֣הra.tze.TahH7521;I have putנָתַ֤תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414my spiritרוּחִי֙ru.ChiH7307upon him: he shall bring forthיוֹצִֽיא׃yo.Tzi'H3318judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֖טmish.PatH4941to the Gentilesלַגּוֹיִ֥םla.go.YimH1471.

2He shall not cryיִצְעַ֖קyitz.'AkH6817,nor lift upיִשָּׂ֑אyi.Sa'H5375,nor cause his voiceקוֹלֽוֹ׃ko.LoH6963to be heardיַשְׁמִ֥יעַyash.Mi.a'H8085in the streetבַּח֖וּץba.ChutzH2351.

3A bruisedרָצוּץ֙ra.TzutzH7533reedקָנֶ֤הka.NehH7070shall he not breakיִשְׁבּ֔וֹרyish.BorH7665,and the smokingכֵהָ֖הkhe.HahH3544flaxוּפִשְׁתָּ֥הu.fish.TahH6594shall he not quenchיְכַבֶּ֑נָּהye.khab.Be.nahH3518:he shall bring forthיוֹצִ֥יאyo.Tzi'H3318judgmentמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941unto truthלֶאֱמֶ֖תle.'e.MetH571.

4He shall not failיִכְהֶה֙yikh.HehH3543nor be discouragedיָר֔וּץya.RutzH7533,till he have setיָשִׂ֥יםya.SimH7760judgmentמִשְׁפָּ֑טmish.PatH4941in the earthבָּאָ֖רֶץba.'A.retzH776:and the islesאִיִּ֥ים'i.YimH339shall waitיְיַחֵֽילוּ׃ פye.ya.Chei.luH3176for his lawוּלְתוֹרָת֖וֹu.le.to.ra.ToH8451.

5Thus saithאָמַ֞ר'a.MarH559Godהָאֵ֣ל׀ha.'ElH410Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,he that createdבּוֹרֵ֤אbo.Re'H1254the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,and stretched them outוְנ֣וֹטֵיהֶ֔םve.No.tei.HemH5186;he that spread forthרֹקַ֥עro.Ka'H7554the earthהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and that which cometh outוְצֶאֱצָאֶ֑יהָve.tze.'e.tza.'Ei.haH6631of it; he that givethנֹתֵ֤ןno.TenH5414breathנְשָׁמָה֙ne.sha.MahH5397unto the peopleלָעָ֣םla.'AmH5971upon it, and spiritוְר֖וּחַve.Ru.achH7307to them that walkלַהֹלְכִ֥יםla.ho.le.KhimH1980therein:

6I Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068have calledקְרָאתִ֥יךָֽke.ra.Ti.chaH7121thee in righteousnessבְצֶ֖דֶקve.Tze.dekH6664,and will holdוְאַחְזֵ֣קve.'ach.ZekH2388thine handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,and will keepוְאֶצָּרְךָ֗ve.'e.tza.re.KhaH5341thee, and giveוְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ve.'e.ten.KhaH5414thee for a covenantלִבְרִ֥יתliv.RitH1285of the peopleעָ֖ם'amH5971,for a lightלְא֥וֹרle.'orH216of the Gentilesגּוֹיִֽם׃go.YimH1471;

7To openלִפְקֹ֖חַlif.Ko.achH6491the blindעִוְר֑וֹתiv.RotH5787eyesעֵינַ֣יִם'ei.Na.yimH5869,to bring outלְהוֹצִ֤יאle.ho.Tzi'H3318the prisonersאַסִּ֔יר'a.SirH616from the prisonמִמַּסְגֵּר֙mi.mas.GerH4525, andthem that sitיֹ֥שְׁבֵיYo.she.veiH3427in darknessחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃Cho.shekhH2822out of the prisonכֶּ֖לֶאKe.le'H3608houseמִבֵּ֥יתmi.BeitH1004.

8I amYhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068: that ismy nameשְׁמִ֑יshe.MiH8034:and my gloryוּכְבוֹדִי֙u.khe.vo.DiH3519will I not giveאֶתֵּ֔ן'e.TenH5414to anotherלְאַחֵ֣רle.'a.CherH312,neither my praiseוּתְהִלָּתִ֖יu.te.hi.la.TiH8416to graven imagesלַפְּסִילִֽים׃la.pe.si.LimH6456.

9Behold, the former thingsהָרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹתha.ri.sho.NotH7223are come to passבָ֑אוּVa.'uH935,and new thingsוַֽחֲדָשׁוֹת֙va.cha.da.shOtH2319do I declareמַגִּ֔ידma.GidH5046:before they spring forthתִּצְמַ֖חְנָהtitz.Mach.nahH6779I tellאַשְׁמִ֥יע'ash.Mi'H8085you of them.

10Singשִׁ֤ירוּShi.ruH7891unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehH3068a newחָדָ֔שׁcha.DashH2319songשִׁ֣ירshirH7892, andhis praiseתְּהִלָּת֖וֹte.hi.la.ToH8416from the endמִקְצֵ֣הmik.TzehH7097of the earthהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776,ye that go downיוֹרְדֵ֤יyor.DeiH3381to the seaהַיָּם֙hai.YamH3220,and all that is thereinוּמְלֹא֔וֹu.me.lo.'OH4393;the islesאִיִּ֖ים'i.YimH339,and the inhabitantsוְיֹשְׁבֵיהֶֽם׃ve.yo.she.vei.HemH3427thereof.

11Let the wildernessמִדְבָּר֙mid.BarH4057and the citiesוְעָרָ֔יוve.'a.RavH5892thereof lift upיִשְׂא֤וּyis.'UH5375their voice,the villagesחֲצֵרִ֖יםcha.tze.RimH2691thatKedarקֵדָ֑רke.DarH6938doth inhabitתֵּשֵׁ֣בte.ShevH3427:let the inhabitantsיֹ֣שְׁבֵיYo.she.veiH3427of the rockH5553singיָרֹ֙נּוּ֙ya.Ro.nuH7442,let them shoutיִצְוָֽחוּ׃yitz.Va.chuH6681from the topמֵרֹ֥אשׁme.RoshH7218of the mountainsהָרִ֖יםha.RimH2022.

12Let them giveיָשִׂ֥ימוּya.Si.muH7760gloryכָּב֑וֹדka.VodH3519unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068,and declareיַגִּֽידוּ׃ya.Gi.duH5046his praiseוּתְהִלָּת֖וֹu.te.hi.la.ToH8416in the islandsבָּאִיִּ֥יםba.'i.YimH339.

13Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068shall go forthיֵצֵ֔אye.Tze'H3318as a mighty manכַּגִּבּ֣וֹרka.gi.BorH1368,he shall stir upיָעִ֣ירya.'IrH5782jealousyקִנְאָ֑הkin.'AhH7068like a manכְּאִ֥ישׁke.'IshH376of warמִלְחָמ֖וֹתmil.cha.MotH4421:he shall cryיָרִ֙יעַ֙ya.Ri.a'H7321,yea, roarיַצְרִ֔יחַyatz.Ri.achH6873;he shall prevailיִתְגַּבָּֽר׃ סyit.ga.BarH1396against his enemiesאֹיְבָ֖יו'o.ye.VavH341.

14I have long timeמֵֽעוֹלָ֔םme.'o.LamH5769holden my peaceהֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙he.che.Shei.tiH2814;I have been stillאַחֲרִ֖ישׁ'a.cha.RishH2790, andrefrainedאֶתְאַפָּ֑ק'et.'a.PakH662myself: nowwill I cryאֶפְעֶ֔ה'ef.'EhH6463like a travailing womanכַּיּוֹלֵדָ֣הkai.yo.le.DahH3205;I will destroyאֶשֹּׁ֥ם'e.ShomH8074 H5395and devourוְאֶשְׁאַ֖ףve.'esh.'AfH7602at onceיָֽחַד׃Ya.chadH3162.

15I will make wasteאַחֲרִ֤יב'a.cha.RivH2717mountainsהָרִים֙ha.RimH2022and hillsוּגְבָע֔וֹתu.ge.va.'otH1389,and dry upאוֹבִ֑ישׁ'o.VishH3001all their herbsעֶשְׂבָּ֖ם'es.BamH6212;and I will makeוְשַׂמְתִּ֤יve.sam.TiH7760the riversנְהָרוֹת֙ne.ha.rOtH5104islandsלָֽאִיִּ֔יםla.'i.YimH339,and I will dry upאוֹבִֽישׁ׃'o.VishH3001the poolsוַאֲגַמִּ֖יםva.'a.ga.MimH98.

16And I will bringH3212the blindעִוְרִ֗ים'iv.RimH5787by a wayבְּדֶ֙רֶךְ֙be.De.rekhH1870thatthey knewיָדָ֔עוּya.Da.'uH3045not; I will leadאַדְרִיכֵ֑ם'ad.ri.KhemH1869them in pathsבִּנְתִיב֥וֹתbin.ti.VotH5410thatthey have not knownיָדְע֖וּya.de.'UH3045:I will makeאָשִׂים֩'a.SimH7760darknessמַחְשָׁ֨ךְmach.ShakhH4285lightלָא֗וֹרla.'orH216beforeלִפְנֵיהֶ֜םlif.nei.HemH6440them, and crooked thingsוּמַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙u.ma.'a.ka.ShimH4625straightלְמִישׁ֔וֹרle.mi.ShorH4334.These thingsהַדְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697will I doעֲשִׂיתִ֖ם'a.si.TimH6213unto them, and not forsakeעֲזַבְתִּֽים׃'a.zav.TimH5800them.

17They shall be turnedנָסֹ֤גוּna.So.guH5472backאָחוֹר֙'a.chOrH268,they shall be greatlyבֹ֔שֶׁתVo.shetH1322ashamedיֵבֹ֣שׁוּye.Vo.shuH954,that trustהַבֹּטְחִ֖יםha.bo.te.ChimH982in graven imagesבַּפָּ֑סֶלba.Pa.selH6459,that sayהָאֹמְרִ֥יםha.'o.me.RimH559to the molten imagesלְמַסֵּכָ֖הle.ma.se.KhahH4541, Ye areour godsאֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ ס'e.lo.Hei.nuH430.

18Hearשְׁמָ֑עוּshe.Ma.'uH8085,ye deafהַחֵרְשִׁ֖יםha.che.re.ShimH2795;and lookהַבִּ֥יטוּha.Bi.tuH5027,ye blindוְהַעִוְרִ֖יםve.ha.'iv.RimH5787,that ye may seeלִרְאֽוֹת׃lir.'otH7200.

19Who isblindעִוֵּר֙'i.VerH5787,but my servantעַבְדִּ֔י'av.DiH5650?or deafוְחֵרֵ֖שׁve.che.ReshH2795,as my messengerכְּמַלְאָכִ֣יke.mal.'a.KhiH4397thatI sentאֶשְׁלָ֑ח'esh.LachH7971? who isblindעִוֵּר֙'i.VerH5787as he that isperfectכִּמְשֻׁלָּ֔םkim.shu.LamH7999,and blindוְעִוֵּ֖רve.'i.VerH5787as Yhwh'sיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068servantכְּעֶ֥בֶדke.'E.vedH5650?

20Seeingרָא֥וֹתra.'i.taH7200many thingsרַבּ֖וֹתra.BotH7227,but thou observestתִשְׁמֹ֑רtish.MorH8104not; openingפָּק֥וֹחַpa.Ko.achH6491the earsאָזְנַ֖יִם'a.ze.Na.yimH241,but he hearethיִשְׁמָֽע׃yish.Ma'H8085not.

21Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068is well pleasedחָפֵ֖ץcha.FetzH2654for his righteousness’צִדְק֑וֹtzid.KoH6664sake; he will magnifyיַגְדִּ֥ילyag.DilH1431the lawתּוֹרָ֖הto.RahH8451, and make ithonourableוְיַאְדִּֽיר׃ve.ya'.DirH142.

22But this isa peopleעַם־'am-H5971robbedבָּז֣וּזba.ZuzH962and spoiledוְשָׁסוּי֒ve.sha.SuiH8154; they areall of them snaredהָפֵ֤חַha.Fe.achH6351in holesבַּֽחוּרִים֙ba.chu.RimH970 H2352,and they are hidהָחְבָּ֑אוּha.che.Ba.'uH2244in prisonכְלָאִ֖יםkhe.la.'ImH3608housesוּבְבָתֵּ֥יu.ve.va.TeiH1004:they are for a preyלָבַז֙la.VazH957,and none deliverethמַצִּ֔ילma.TzilH5337;for a spoilמְשִׁסָּ֖הme.shi.SahH4933,and none saithאֹמֵ֥ר'o.MerH559,Restoreהָשַֽׁב׃ha.ShavH7725.

23Who among you will give earיַאֲזִ֣יןya.'a.ZinH238to this? whowill hearkenיַקְשִׁ֥בyak.ShivH7181and hearוְיִשְׁמַ֖עve.yish.Ma'H8085for the time to comeלְאָחֽוֹר׃le.'a.ChorH268?

24Who gaveנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414Jacobיַעֲקֹ֛בya.'a.KoH3290for a spoilלִמְשִׁסָּ֧הlim.sho.sehH4882 H4933,and Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478to the robbersלְבֹזְזִ֖יםle.vo.ze.ZimH962?did not Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,he against whomז֚וּzuH2098we have sinnedחָטָ֣אנוּcha.Ta.nuH2398?for they wouldאָב֤וּ'a.VuH14not walkהָל֔וֹךְha.LokhH1980in his waysבִדְרָכָיו֙vid.ra.KhavH1870,neither were they obedientשָׁמְע֖וּsha.me.'UH8085unto his lawבְּתוֹרָתֽוֹ׃be.to.ra.ToH8451.

25Therefore he hath pouredוַיִּשְׁפֹּ֤ךְvai.yish.PokhH8210upon him the furyחֵמָ֣הche.MahH2534of his angerאַפּ֔וֹ'a.PoH639,and the strengthוֶעֱז֖וּזve.'e.ZuzH5807of battleמִלְחָמָ֑הmil.cha.MahH4421:and it hath set him on fireוַתְּלַהֲטֵ֤הוּva.te.la.ha.Te.huH3857round aboutמִסָּבִיב֙mi.sa.VivH5439,yet he knewיָדָ֔עya.Da'H3045not; and it burnedוַתִּבְעַר־va.tiv.'ar-H1197him, yet he laidיָשִׂ֥יםya.SimH7760itnot to heartלֵֽב׃ פLevH3820.

Commentaries on Isaiah 42