Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 44

1Yet now hearשְׁמַ֖עshe.Ma'H8085,O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֣בya.'a.KoH3290my servantעַבְדִּ֑י'av.DiH5650;and Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,whom I have chosenבָּחַ֥רְתִּיba.Char.tiH977:

2Thus saithאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068that madeעֹשֶׂ֛ךָ'o.Se.khaH6213thee, and formedוְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335thee from the wombמִבֶּ֖טֶןmi.Be.tenH990, whichwill helpיַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּya'.ze.Re.kaH5826thee; Fearתִּירָא֙ti.Ra'H3372not, O Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,my servantעַבְדִּ֣י'av.DiH5650;and thou, Jesurunוִישֻׁר֖וּןvi.shu.RunH3484,whom I have chosenבָּחַ֥רְתִּיba.Char.tiH977.

3For I will pourאֶצָּק־'e.tzok-H3332waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325upon him that is thirstyצָמֵ֔אtza.Me'H6771,and floodsוְנֹזְלִ֖יםve.no.ze.LimH5140upon the dry groundיַבָּשָׁ֑הya.ba.ShahH3004:I will pourאֶצֹּ֤ק'e.TzokH3332my spiritרוּחִי֙ru.ChiH7307upon thy seedזַרְעֶ֔ךָzar.'E.khaH2233,and my blessingוּבִרְכָתִ֖יu.vir.kha.TiH1293upon thine offspringצֶאֱצָאֶֽיךָ׃tze.'e.tza.'Ei.khaH6631:

4And they shall spring upוְצָמְח֖וּve.tza.me.ChuH6779asamongבְּבֵ֣יןbe.VeinH996the grassחָצִ֑ירcha.TzirH2682,as willowsכַּעֲרָבִ֖יםka.'a.ra.VimH6155by the waterמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325coursesיִבְלֵי־yiv.lei-H2988.

5One shall sayיֹאמַר֙yo.MarH559, I amYhwh'sלַֽיהוָ֣הla.Yah.wehH3068;and another shall callיִקְרָ֣אyik.Ra'H7121himselfby the nameבְשֵֽׁם־ve.shem-H8034of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290;and another shall subscribeיִכְתֹּ֤בyikh.ToH3789withhis handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068,and surnameיְכַנֶּֽה׃ פye.kha.NehH3655himselfby the nameוּבְשֵׁ֥םu.ve.ShemH8034of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478.

6Thus saithאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068the Kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and his redeemerוְגֹאֲל֖וֹve.go.'a.LoH1350Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068of Armiesצְבָא֑וֹתtze.va.'otH6635; I amthe firstרִאשׁוֹן֙ri.shOnH7223, and I amthe lastאַחֲר֔וֹן'a.cha.RonH314;and besideוּמִבַּלְעָדַ֖יu.mi.bal.'a.DaiH1107me there isno Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430.

7And who, as I, shall callיִקְרָ֗אyik.Ra'H7121,and shall declareוְיַגִּידֶ֤הָve.ya.gi.De.haH5046it, and set it in orderוְיַעְרְכֶ֙הָ֙ve.ya'.re.Khe.haH6186for me, since I appointedמִשּׂוּמִ֖יmi.su.MiH7760the ancientעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769peopleעַם־'am-H5971?and the things that are comingוְאֹתִיּ֛וֹתve.'o.ti.YotH857,and shall comeתָּבֹ֖אנָהta.Vo.nahH935,let them shewיַגִּ֥ידוּya.Gi.duH5046unto them.

8Fearתִּפְחֲדוּ֙tif.cha.DuH6342ye not, neither be afraidתִּרְה֔וּtir.HuH7297:have not I toldהִשְׁמַעְתִּ֥יךָhish.ma'.Ti.khaH8085thee from that timeמֵאָ֛זme.'AzH227,and have declaredוְהִגַּ֖דְתִּיve.hi.Gad.tiH5046it? ye areeven my witnessesעֵדָ֑י'e.DaiH5707.Is thereהֲיֵ֤שׁha.YeshH3426a Godאֱל֙וֹהַּ֙'e.Lo.ahH433besideמִבַּלְעָדַ֔יmi.bal.'a.DaiH1107me? yea, there isno Godצ֖וּרtzurH6697;I knowיָדָֽעְתִּי׃ya.Da.'e.tiH3045not any.

9They that makeיֹֽצְרֵי־yo.tze.rei-H3335a graven imageפֶ֤סֶלFe.selH6459areall of them vanityתֹּ֔הוּTo.huH8414;and their delectable thingsוַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖םva.cha.mu.dei.HemH2530shall not profitיוֹעִ֑ילוּyo.'I.luH3276; and they aretheir own witnessesוְעֵדֵיהֶ֣םve.'e.dei.HemH5707;they seeיִרְא֛וּyir.'UH7200not, nor knowיֵדְע֖וּye.de.'UH3045;that they may be ashamedיֵבֹֽשׁוּ׃ye.Vo.shuH954.

10Who hath formedיָצַ֥רya.TzarH3335a godאֵ֖ל'elH410,or moltenנָסָ֑ךְna.SakhH5258a graven imageוּפֶ֣סֶלu.Fe.selH6459thatis profitableהוֹעִֽיל׃ho.'IlH3276for nothingלְבִלְתִּ֖יle.vil.TiH1115?

11Behold, all his fellowsחֲבֵרָיו֙cha.ve.RavH2270shall be ashamedיֵבֹ֔שׁוּye.Vo.shuH954:and the workmenוְחָרָשִׁ֥יםve.cha.ra.ShimH2796, they areof menמֵֽאָדָ֑םme.'a.DamH120:let them all be gathered togetherיִֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּyit.ka.be.TzuH6908,let them stand upיַֽעֲמֹ֔דוּya.'a.Mo.duH5975; yetthey shall fearיִפְחֲד֖וּyif.cha.DuH6342, andthey shall be ashamedיֵבֹ֥שׁוּye.Vo.shuH954togetherיָֽחַד׃Ya.chadH3162.

12The smithחָרַ֤שׁ בַּרְזֶל֙cha.Rash bar.ZelH2796 H1270with the tongsמַֽעֲצָ֔דma.'a.TzadH4621both workethוּפָעַל֙u.fa.'AlH6466in the coalsבַּפֶּחָ֔םba.pe.ChamH6352,and fashionethיִצְּרֵ֑הוּyi.tze.Re.huH3335it with hammersוּבַמַּקָּב֖וֹתu.vam.ma.ka.VotH4717,and workethוַיִּפְעָלֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yif.'a.Le.huH6466it with the strengthכֹּח֔וֹko.ChoH3581of his armsבִּזְר֣וֹעַbiz.Ro.a'H2220:yea, he is hungryH7457,and his strengthכֹּ֔חַKo.achH3581failethוְאֵ֣יןve.'EinH369:he drinkethשָׁ֥תָהSha.tahH8354no waterמַ֖יִםMa.yimH4325,and is faintוַיִּיעָֽף׃vai.yi.'AfH3286.

13The carpenterחָרַ֣שׁ עֵצִים֮cha.Rash 'e.TzimH6086 H2796stretcheth outנָ֣טָהNa.tahH5186hisruleקָו֒kavH6957;he marketh it outיְתָאֲרֵ֣הוּye.ta.'a.Re.huH8388with a lineבַשֶּׂ֔רֶדva.Se.redH8279;he fittethיַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ya.'a.Se.huH6213it with planesבַּמַּקְצֻע֔וֹתba.mak.tzu.'otH4741,and he marketh it outיְתָאֳרֵ֑הוּye.to.'o.Re.huH8388with the compassוּבַמְּחוּגָ֖הu.va.me.chu.GahH4230,and makethוַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.'a.Se.huH6213it after the figureכְּתַבְנִ֣יתke.tav.NitH8403of a manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,according to the beautyכְּתִפְאֶ֥רֶתke.tif.'E.retH8597of a manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120;that it may remainלָשֶׁ֥בֶתla.She.vetH3427in the houseבָּֽיִת׃Ba.yitH1004.

14He heweth him downלִכְרָת־likh.rot-H3772cedarsאֲרָזִ֔ים'a.ra.ZimH730,and takethוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947the cypressתִּרְזָה֙tir.ZahH8645and the oakוְאַלּ֔וֹןve.'a.LonH437,which he strengthenethוַיְאַמֶּץ־vay.'a.metz-H553for himself among the treesבַּעֲצֵי־ba.'a.tzei-H6086of the forestיָ֑עַרYa.'arH3293:he plantethנָטַ֥עna.Ta'H5193an ashאֹ֖רֶן'O.renH766,and the rainוְגֶ֥שֶׁםve.Ge.shemH1653doth nourishיְגַדֵּֽל׃ye.ga.DelH1431it.

15Then shall it be for a manלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120to burnלְבָעֵ֔רle.va.'ErH1197:for he will takeוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947thereof, and warmוַיָּ֔חָםvai.Ya.chomH2552himself; yea, he kindlethיַשִּׂ֖יקya.SikH5400it,and bakethוְאָ֣פָהve.'A.fahH644breadלָ֑חֶםLa.chemH3899;yea, he makethיִפְעַל־yif.'al-H6466a godאֵל֙'elH410,and worshippethוַיִּשְׁתָּ֔חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812it;he makethעָשָׂ֥הוּ'a.Sa.huH6213it a graven imageפֶ֖סֶלFe.selH6459,and falleth downוַיִּסְגָּד־vai.yis.god-H5456thereto.

16He burnethשָׂרַ֣ףsa.RafH8313partחֶצְיוֹ֙chetz.YoH2677thereof inבְּמוֹ־be.mov-H1119the fireאֵ֔שׁ'EshH784;with partחֶצְיוֹ֙chetz.YoH2677thereof he eatethיֹאכֵ֔לyo.KhelH398fleshבָּשָׂ֣רba.SarH1320;he roastethיִצְלֶ֥הyitz.LehH6740roastצָלִ֖יtza.LiH6748,and is satisfiedוְיִשְׂבָּ֑עve.yis.Ba'H7646:yea, he warmethיָחֹם֙ya.ChomH2552himself,and saithוְיֹאמַ֣רve.yo.MarH559,Ahaהֶאָ֔חhe.'AchH1889,I am warmחַמּוֹתִ֖יcha.mo.TiH2552,I have seenרָאִ֥יתִיra.'I.tiH7200the fireאֽוּר׃'UrH217:

17And the residueוּשְׁאֵ֣רִית֔וֹu.she.'E.ri.ToH7611thereof he makethעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213a godלְאֵ֥לle.'ElH410, evenhis graven imageלְפִסְל֑וֹle.fis.LoH6459:he falleth downH5456unto it, and worshippethוְיִשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ve.yish.Ta.chuH7812it,and prayethוְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣לve.yit.pa.LelH6419unto it, and saithוְיֹאמַר֙ve.yo.MarH559,Deliverהַצִּילֵ֔נִיha.tzi.Le.niH5337me; for thou artmy godאֵלִ֖י'e.LiH410.

18They have not knownיָדְע֖וּya.de.'UH3045nor understoodיָבִ֑ינוּya.Vi.nuH995:for he hath shutטַ֤חtachH2902their eyesעֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם'ei.nei.HemH5869,that they cannot seeמֵֽרְאוֹת֙me.re.'OtH7200; andtheir heartsH3826,that they cannot understandמֵהַשְׂכִּ֖ילme.has.KilH7919.

19And none considerethיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725in his heartלִבּ֗וֹli.BoH3820, neither is thereknowledgeדַ֥עַתDa.'atH1847nor understandingתְבוּנָה֮te.vu.NahH8394to sayלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559,I have burnedשָׂרַ֣פְתִּיsa.Raf.tiH8313partחֶצְי֞וֹchetz.YoH2677of it inבְמוֹ־ve.mov-H1119the fireאֵ֗שׁ'EshH784;yea, also I have bakedאָפִ֤יתִי'a.Fi.tiH644breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899upon the coalsגֶּחָלָיו֙ge.cha.LavH1513thereof; I have roastedאֶצְלֶ֥ה'etz.LehH6740fleshבָשָׂ֖רva.SarH1320,and eatenוְאֹכֵ֑לve.'o.KhelH398it:and shall I makeאֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213the residueוְיִתְרוֹ֙ve.yit.RoH3499thereof an abominationלְתוֹעֵבָ֣הle.to.'e.VahH8441?shall I fall downאֶסְגּֽוֹד׃'es.GodH5456to the stockלְב֥וּלle.VulH944of a treeעֵ֖ץ'etzH6086?

20He feedethרֹעֶ֣הro.'EhH7462on ashesאֵ֔פֶר'E.ferH665:a deceivedהוּתַ֖לhu.TalH2048heartלֵ֥בlevH3820hath turned him asideהִטָּ֑הוּhi.Ta.huH5186,that he cannot deliverיַצִּ֤ילya.TzilH5337his soulנַפְשׁוֹ֙naf.ShoH5315,nor sayיֹאמַ֔רyo.MarH559, Is therenot a lieשֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerH8267in my right handבִּימִינִֽי׃ סbi.mi.NiH3225?

21Rememberזְכָר־ze.khor-H2142these, O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290and Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478; for thou artmy servantעַבְדִּי־'av.di-H5650:I have formedיְצַרְתִּ֤יךָye.tzar.Ti.khaH3335thee; thou artmy servantעֶֽבֶד־'e.ved-H5650:O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,thou shalt not be forgottenתִנָּשֵֽׁנִי׃ti.na.She.niH5382of me.

22I have blotted outמָחִ֤יתִיma.Chi.tiH4229,as a thick cloudכָעָב֙kha.'AvH5645,thy transgressionsפְּשָׁעֶ֔יךָpe.sha.'Ei.khaH6588,and, as a cloudוְכֶעָנָ֖ןve.khe.'a.NanH6051,thy sinsחַטֹּאותֶ֑יךָcha.to.Tei.khaH2403:returnשׁוּבָ֥הshu.VahH7725unto me; for I have redeemedגְאַלְתִּֽיךָ׃ge.'al.Ti.khaH1350thee.

23Singרָנּ֨וּra.NuH7442,O ye heavensשָׁמַ֜יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064;for Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068hath doneעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213it:shoutהָרִ֙יעוּ֙ha.Ri.'uH7321,ye lower partsתַּחְתִּיּ֣וֹתtach.ti.YotH8482of the earthאָ֔רֶץ'A.retzH776:break forthפִּצְח֤וּpitz.ChuH6476into singingרִנָּ֔הri.NahH7440,ye mountainsהָרִים֙ha.RimH2022,O forestיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293,and every treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086therein: for Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath redeemedגָאַ֤לga.'AlH1350Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and glorifiedיִתְפָּאָֽר׃ פyit.pa.'ArH6286himself in Israelוּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu.ve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

24Thus saithאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,thy redeemerגֹּאֲלֶ֔ךָgo.'a.Le.khaH1350,and he that formedוְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335thee from the wombמִבָּ֑טֶןmi.Ba.tenH990, I amYhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068that makethעֹ֣שֶׂה'O.sehH6213all things;that stretcheth forthנֹטֶ֤הno.TehH5186the heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙sha.Ma.yimH8064alone; that spreadeth abroadרֹקַ֥עro.Ka'H7554the earthהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776by myself;

25That frustratethמֵפֵר֙me.FerH6565the tokensאֹת֣וֹת'o.TotH226of the liarsבַּדִּ֔יםba.DimH907,and maketh divinersוְקֹסְמִ֖יםve.ko.se.MimH7080madיְהוֹלֵ֑לye.ho.LelH1984;that turnethמֵשִׁ֧יבme.ShivH7725wiseחֲכָמִ֛יםcha.kha.MimH2450menbackwardאָח֖וֹר'a.ChorH268,and maketh their knowledgeוְדַעְתָּ֥םve.da'.TamH1847foolishיְשַׂכֵּֽל׃ye.sa.KelH5528;

26That confirmethמֵקִים֙me.KimH6965the wordדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of his servantעַבְדּ֔וֹav.DoH5650,and performethיַשְׁלִ֑יםyash.LimH7999the counselוַעֲצַ֥תva.'a.TzatH6098of his messengersמַלְאָכָ֖יוmal.'a.KhavH4397;that saithהָאֹמֵ֨רha.'o.MerH559to Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַ֜םli.ru.sha.LimH3389,Thou shalt be inhabitedתּוּשָׁ֗בtu.ShavH3427;and to the citiesוּלְעָרֵ֤יu.le.'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063,Ye shall be builtתִּבָּנֶ֔ינָהti.ba.Nei.nahH1129,and I will raise upאֲקוֹמֵֽם׃'a.ko.MemH6965the decayed placesוְחָרְבוֹתֶ֖יהָve.cha.re.vo.Tei.haH2723thereof:

27That saithהָאֹמֵ֥רha.'o.MerH559to the deepלַצּוּלָ֖הla.tzu.LahH6683,Be dryחֳרָ֑בִיcho.Ra.viH2717,and I will dry upאוֹבִֽישׁ׃'o.VishH3001thy riversוְנַהֲרֹתַ֖יִךְve.na.ha.ro.Ta.yikhH5104:

28That saithהָאֹמֵ֤רha.'o.MerH559of Cyrusלְכ֙וֹרֶשׁ֙le.Kho.reshH3566, He ismy shepherdרֹעִ֔יro.'IH7462,and shall performיַשְׁלִ֑םyash.LimH7999all my pleasureחֶפְצִ֖יchef.TziH2656:even sayingוְלֵאמֹ֤רve.le.MorH559to Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙li.ru.sha.LimH3389,Thou shalt be builtתִּבָּנֶ֔הti.ba.NehH1129;and to the templeוְהֵיכָ֖לve.hei.KhalH1964,Thy foundation shall be laidתִּוָּסֵֽד׃ סti.va.SedH3245.

Commentaries on Isaiah 44