Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 43

1But now thus saithאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068that createdבֹּרַאֲךָ֣bo.ra.'a.KhaH1254thee, O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and he that formedוְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335thee, O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Fearתִּירָא֙ti.Ra'H3372not: for I have redeemedגְאַלְתִּ֔יךָge.'al.Ti.khaH1350thee, I have calledקָרָ֥אתִיka.Ra.tiH7121theeby thy nameבְשִׁמְךָ֖ve.shim.KhaH8034; thou art mine.

2When thou passest throughתַעֲבֹ֤רta.'a.VorH5674the watersבַּמַּ֙יִם֙ba.Ma.yimH4325, I will bewith thee; and through the riversוּבַנְּהָר֖וֹתu.va.ne.ha.RotH5104,they shall not overflowיִשְׁטְפ֑וּךָyish.te.Fu.khaH7857thee: when thou walkestH3212throughבְּמוֹ־be.mov-H1119the fireאֵשׁ֙'eshH784,thou shalt not be burnedתִכָּוֶ֔הti.ka.VehH3554;neither shall the flameוְלֶהָבָ֖הve.le.ha.VahH3852kindleתִבְעַר־tiv.'ar-H1197upon thee.

3For I amYhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,the Holy Oneקְד֥וֹשׁke.Do.oshH6918of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,thy Saviourמוֹשִׁיעֶ֑ךָmo.shi.'E.khaH3467:I gaveנָתַ֤תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714forthy ransomכָפְרְךָ֙kha.fe.re.KhaH3724,Ethiopiaכּ֥וּשׁkushH3568and Sebaוּסְבָ֖אu.se.Va'H5434for thee.

4Since thou wast preciousיָקַ֧רְתָּya.Kar.taH3365in my sightבְעֵינַ֛יve.'ei.NaiH5869,thou hast been honourableנִכְבַּ֖דְתָּnikh.Bad.taH3513,and I have lovedאֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ'a.hav.Ti.khaH157thee: therefore will I giveוְאֶתֵּ֤ןve.'e.TenH5414menאָדָם֙'a.DamH120for thee, and peopleוּלְאֻמִּ֖יםu.le.'u.MimH3816for thy lifeנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃naf.She.khaH5315.

5Fearתִּירָ֖אti.Ra'H3372not: for I amwith thee: I will bringאָבִ֣יא'a.Vi'H935thy seedזַרְעֶ֔ךָzar.'E.khaH2233from the eastמִמִּזְרָח֙mi.miz.RachH4217,and gatherאֲקַבְּצֶֽךָּ׃'a.ka.be.Tze.kaH6908thee from the westוּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֖בu.mi.ma.'a.RavH4628;

6I will sayאֹמַ֤ר'o.MarH559to the northלַצָּפוֹן֙la.tza.fOnH6828,Give upתֵּ֔נִיTe.niH5414;and to the southוּלְתֵימָ֖ןu.le.tei.ManH8486,Keep not backתִּכְלָ֑אִיtikh.La.'iH3607:bringהָבִ֤יאִיha.Vi.'iH935my sonsבָנַי֙va.NaiH1121from farמֵרָח֔וֹקme.ra.ChokH7350,and my daughtersוּבְנוֹתַ֖יu.ve.no.TaiH1323from the endsמִקְצֵ֥הmik.TzehH7097of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776;

7Evenevery oneכֹּ֚לkolH3605that is calledהַנִּקְרָ֣אha.nik.Ra'H7121by my nameבִשְׁמִ֔יvish.MiH8034:for I have createdבְּרָאתִ֑יוbe.ra.TivH1254him for my gloryוְלִכְבוֹדִ֖יve.likh.vo.DiH3519,I have formedיְצַרְתִּ֖יוye.tzar.TivH3335him; yea, I have madeעֲשִׂיתִֽיו׃'a.si.TivH6213him.

8Bring forthהוֹצִ֥יאho.Tzi'H3318the blindעִוֵּ֖ר'i.VerH5787peopleעַם־'am-H5971that haveיֵ֑שׁYeshH3426eyesוְעֵינַ֣יִםve.'ei.Na.yimH5869,and the deafוְחֵרְשִׁ֖יםve.che.re.ShimH2795that have earsוְאָזְנַ֥יִםve.'a.ze.Na.yimH241.

9Let all the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֞םha.go.YimH1471be gatheredנִקְבְּצ֣וּnik.be.TzuH6908togetherיַחְדָּ֗וyach.DavH3162,and let the peopleלְאֻמִּ֔יםle.'u.MimH3816be assembledוְיֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ve.ye.'a.se.FuH622:who among them can declareיַגִּ֣ידya.GidH5046this, and shewיַשְׁמִיעֻ֑נוּyash.mi.'U.nuH8085us former thingsוְרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹתve.ri.sho.NotH7223?let them bring forthיִתְּנ֤וּyi.te.NuH5414their witnessesעֵֽדֵיהֶם֙'e.dei.HemH5707,that they may be justifiedוְיִצְדָּ֔קוּve.yitz.Da.kuH6663:or let them hearוְיִשְׁמְע֖וּve.yish.me.'UH8085,and sayוְיֹאמְר֥וּve.yo.me.RuH559, It istruthאֱמֶֽת׃'e.MetH571.

10Ye aremy witnessesעֵדַי֙'e.DaiH5707,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and my servantוְעַבְדִּ֖יve.'av.DiH5650whom I have chosenבָּחָ֑רְתִּיba.Cha.re.tiH977:that ye may knowתֵּ֠דְעוּTe.de.'uH3045and believeוְתַאֲמִ֨ינוּve.ta.'a.Mi.nuH539me, and understandוְתָבִ֙ינוּ֙ve.ta.Vi.nuH995that I amhe: beforeלְפָנַי֙le.fa.NaiH6440me there was no Godאֵ֔ל'ElH410formedנ֣וֹצַרNo.tzarH3335,neither shall there be afterוְאַחֲרַ֖יve.'a.cha.RaiH310me.

11I, even I, amYhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;and besideמִבַּלְעָדַ֖יmi.bal.'a.DaiH1107me there isno saviourמוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃mo.Shi.a'H3467.

12I have declaredהִגַּ֤דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046,and have savedוְהוֹשַׁ֙עְתִּי֙ve.ho.Sha'.tiH3467,and I have shewedוְהִשְׁמַ֔עְתִּיve.hish.Ma'.tiH8085, when there wasno strangeזָ֑רZarH2114god among you: therefore ye aremy witnessesעֵדַ֛י'e.DaiH5707,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068, that I amGodאֵֽל׃'ElH410.

13Yea, before the dayמִיּוֹם֙mi.yOmH3117was I am he; and there isnone that can deliverמַצִּ֑ילma.TzilH5337out of my handמִיָּדִ֖יmi.ya.DiH3027:I will workאֶפְעַ֖ל'ef.'AlH6466,and who shall letיְשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ סye.shi.Ve.nahH7725it?

14Thus saithאָמַ֧ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068,your redeemerגֹּאַלְכֶ֖םgo.'al.KhemH1350,the Holy Oneקְד֣וֹשׁke.Do.oshH6918of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478;For your sake I have sentשִׁלַּ֣חְתִּיshi.Lach.tiH7971to Babylonבָבֶ֗לָהva.Ve.lahH894,and have brought downוְהוֹרַדְתִּ֤יve.ho.rad.TiH3381all their noblesבָֽרִיחִים֙va.ri.ChimH1281,and the Chaldeansוְכַשְׂדִּ֖יםve.khas.DimH3778,whose cryרִנָּתָֽם׃ri.na.TamH7440isin the shipsבָּאֳנִיּ֥וֹתbo.'o.ni.YotH591.

15I amYhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,your Holy Oneקְדֽוֹשְׁכֶ֑םke.do.she.KhemH6918,the creatorבּוֹרֵ֥אbo.Re'H1254of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,your Kingמַלְכְּכֶֽם׃ סmal.ke.KhemH4428.

16Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,which makethהַנּוֹתֵ֥ןha.no.TenH5414a wayדָּ֑רֶךְDa.rekhH1870in the seaבַּיָּ֖םbai.YamH3220,and a pathנְתִיבָֽה׃ne.ti.VahH5410in the mightyעַזִּ֖ים'a.ZimH5794watersוּבְמַ֥יִםu.ve.Ma.yimH4325;

17Which bringeth forthהַמּוֹצִ֥יאha.mo.Tzi'H3318the chariotרֶֽכֶב־re.khev-H7393and horseוָס֖וּסva.SusH5483,the armyחַ֣יִלCha.yilH2428and the powerוְעִזּ֑וּזve.'i.ZuzH5808;they shall lie downיִשְׁכְּבוּ֙yish.ke.VuH7901togetherיַחְדָּ֤וyach.DavH3162,they shall not riseיָק֔וּמוּya.Ku.muH6965:they are extinctדָּעֲכ֖וּda.'a.KhuH1846,they are quenchedכָבֽוּ׃kha.VuH3518as towכַּפִּשְׁתָּ֥הka.pish.TahH6594.

18Rememberתִּזְכְּר֖וּtiz.ke.RuH2142ye not the former thingsרִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹתri.sho.NotH7223,neither considerתִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃tit.bo.Na.nuH995the things of oldוְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹתve.kad.mo.ni.YotH6931.

19Behold, I will doעֹשֶׂ֤ה'o.SehH6213a new thingחֲדָשָׁה֙cha.da.ShahH2319;now it shall spring forthתִצְמָ֔חtitz.MachH6779;shall ye not knowתֵֽדָע֑וּהָte.da.'U.haH3045it? I will even makeאָשִׂ֤ים'a.SimH7760a wayדֶּ֔רֶךְDe.rekhH1870in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּר֙ba.mid.BarH4057, andriversנְהָרֽוֹת׃ne.ha.RotH5104in the desertבִּֽישִׁמ֖וֹןbi.shi.MonH3452.

20The beastחַיַּ֣תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.DehH7704shall honourתְּכַבְּדֵ֙נִי֙te.kha.be.De.niH3513me, the dragonsתַּנִּ֖יםta.NimH8577and the owlsוּבְנ֣וֹת יַֽעֲנָ֑הu.ve.Not ya.'a.NahH3284 H1323:because I giveנָתַ֨תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414watersמַ֗יִםMa.yimH4325in the wildernessבַמִּדְבָּ֜רva.mid.BarH4057, andriversנְהָרוֹת֙ne.ha.rOtH5104in the desertבִּֽישִׁימֹ֔ןbi.shi.MonH3452,to give drinkלְהַשְׁק֖וֹתle.hash.KotH8248to my peopleעַמִּ֥י'a.MiH5971,my chosenבְחִירִֽי׃ve.chi.RiH972.

21Thisזוּ֙zuH2098peopleעַם־'am-H5971have I formedיָצַ֣רְתִּיya.Tzar.tiH3335for myself; they shall shew forthיְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃ סye.sa.Pe.ruH5608my praiseתְּהִלָּתִ֖יte.hi.la.TiH8416.

22But thou hast not calledקָרָ֖אתָka.Ra.taH7121upon me, O Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290;but thou hast been wearyיָגַ֥עְתָּya.Ga'.taH3021of me, O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

23Thou hast not broughtהֵבֵ֤יאתָhe.Vei.taH935me the small cattleשֵׂ֣הsehH7716of thy burnt offeringsעֹלֹתֶ֔יךָ'o.lo.Tei.khaH5930;neither hast thou honouredכִבַּדְתָּ֑נִיkhi.bad.Ta.niH3513me with thy sacrificesוּזְבָחֶ֖יךָu.ze.va.Chei.khaH2077.I have not caused thee to serveהֶעֱבַדְתִּ֙יךָ֙he.'e.vad.Ti.khaH5647with an offeringבְּמִנְחָ֔הbe.min.ChahH4503,nor weariedהוֹגַעְתִּ֖יךָho.ga'.Ti.khaH3021thee with incenseבִּלְבוֹנָֽה׃bil.vo.NahH3828.

24Thou hast boughtקָנִ֨יתָka.Ni.taH7069me no sweet caneקָנֶ֔הka.NehH7070with moneyבַכֶּ֙סֶף֙va.Ke.sefH3701,neither hast thou filledהִרְוִיתָ֑נִיhir.vi.Ta.niH7301me with the fatוְחֵ֥לֶבve.Che.levH2459of thy sacrificesזְבָחֶ֖יךָze.va.Chei.khaH2077:but thou hast made me to serveהֶעֱבַדְתַּ֙נִי֙he.'e.vad.Ta.niH5647with thy sinsבְּחַטֹּאותֶ֔יךָbe.cha.to.Tei.khaH2403,thou hast weariedהוֹגַעְתַּ֖נִיho.ga'.Ta.niH3021me with thine iniquitiesבַּעֲוֹנֹתֶֽיךָ׃ סba.'a.vo.no.Tei.khaH5771.

25I, even I, amhe that blotteth outמֹחֶ֥הmo.ChehH4229thy transgressionsפְשָׁעֶ֖יךָfe.sha.'Ei.khaH6588for mine own sake, and will not rememberאֶזְכֹּֽר׃'ez.KorH2142thy sinsוְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָve.cha.to.Tei.khaH2403.

26Put me in remembranceהַזְכִּירֵ֕נִיhaz.ki.Re.niH2142:let us pleadנִשָּׁפְטָ֖הni.sha.fe.TahH8199togetherיָ֑חַדYa.chadH3162:declareסַפֵּ֥רsa.PerH5608thou, that thou mayest be justifiedתִּצְדָּֽק׃titz.DakH6663.

27Thy firstהָרִאשׁ֖וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223fatherאָבִ֥יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1hath sinnedחָטָ֑אcha.Ta'H2398,and thy teachersוּמְלִיצֶ֖יךָu.me.li.Tzei.khaH3887have transgressedפָּ֥שְׁעוּPa.she.'uH6586against me.

28Therefore I have profanedוַאֲחַלֵּ֖לva.'a.cha.LelH2490the princesשָׂ֣רֵיSa.reiH8269of the sanctuaryקֹ֑דֶשׁKo.deshH6944,and have givenוְאֶתְּנָ֤הve.'e.te.NahH5414Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290to the curseלַחֵ֙רֶם֙la.Che.remH2764,and Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478to reproachesלְגִדּוּפִֽים׃ סle.gi.du.FimH1421.

Commentaries on Isaiah 43