Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 51

1Hearkenשִׁמְע֥וּshim.'UH8085to me, ye that follow afterרֹ֥דְפֵיRo.de.feiH7291righteousnessצֶ֖דֶקTze.dekH6664,ye that seekמְבַקְשֵׁ֣יme.vak.SheiH1245Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:lookהַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ha.Bi.tuH5027unto the rockצ֣וּרtzurH6697whenceye are hewnחֻצַּבְתֶּ֔םchu.tzav.TemH2672,and to the holeמַקֶּ֥בֶתma.Ke.vetH4718of the pitבּ֖וֹרBorH953whenceye are diggedנֻקַּרְתֶּֽם׃nu.kar.TemH5365.

2Lookהַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ha.Bi.tuH5027unto Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85your fatherאֲבִיכֶ֔ם'a.vi.KhemH1,and unto Sarahשָׂרָ֖הsa.RahH8283thatbareתְּחוֹלֶלְכֶ֑םte.cho.lel.KhemH2342you: for I calledקְרָאתִ֔יוke.ra.TivH7121him aloneאֶחָ֣ד'e.ChadH259,and blessedוַאֲבָרְכֵ֖הוּva.'a.va.re.Khe.huH1288him, and increasedוְאַרְבֵּֽהוּ׃ סve.'ar.Be.huH7235him.

3For Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068shall comfortנִחַ֨םni.ChamH5162Zionצִיּ֗וֹןtzi.YonH6726:he will comfortנִחַם֙ni.ChamH5162all her waste placesחָרְבֹתֶ֔יהָcha.re.vo.Tei.haH2723;and he will makeוַיָּ֤שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760her wildernessמִדְבָּרָהּ֙mid.ba.RahH4057like Edenכְּעֵ֔דֶןke.'E.denH5731,and her desertוְעַרְבָתָ֖הּve.'ar.va.TahH6160like the gardenכְּגַן־ke.gan-H1588of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;joyשָׂשׂ֤וֹןsa.SonH8342and gladnessוְשִׂמְחָה֙ve.sim.ChahH8057shall be foundיִמָּ֣צֵאyi.Ma.tze'H4672therein, thanksgivingתּוֹדָ֖הto.DahH8426,and the voiceוְק֥וֹלve.KolH6963of melodyזִמְרָֽה׃ סzim.RahH2172.

4Hearkenהַקְשִׁ֤יבוּhak.Shi.vuH7181unto me, my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971;and give earהַאֲזִ֑ינוּha.'a.Zi.nuH238unto me, O my nationוּלְאוּמִּ֖יu.le.'u.MiH3816:for a lawתוֹרָה֙to.RahH8451shall proceedתֵצֵ֔אte.Tze'H3318from me, and I will make my judgmentוּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔יu.mish.pa.TiH4941to restאַרְגִּֽיעַ׃'ar.Gi.a'H7280for a lightלְא֥וֹרle.'orH216of the peopleעַמִּ֖ים'a.MimH5971.

5My righteousnessצִדְקִי֙tzid.KiH6664isnearקָר֤וֹבka.RovH7138;my salvationיִשְׁעִ֔יyish.'IH3468is gone forthיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318,and mine armsוּזְרֹעַ֖יu.ze.ro.'AiH2220shall judgeיִשְׁפֹּ֑טוּyish.Po.tuH8199the peopleעַמִּ֣ים'a.MimH5971;the islesאִיִּ֣ים'i.YimH339shall waitיְקַוּ֔וּye.ka.VuH6960upon me, and on mine armזְרֹעִ֖יze.ro.'IH2220shall they trustיְיַחֵלֽוּן׃ye.ya.che.LunH3176.

6Lift upשְׂאוּ֩se.'UH5375your eyesעֵֽינֵיכֶ֜ם'ei.nei.KhemH5869to the heavensלַשָּׁמַ֨יִםla.sha.Ma.yimH8064,and lookוְֽהַבִּ֧יטוּve.ha.Bi.tuH5027upon the earthהָאָ֣רֶץha.'A.retzH776beneath: for the heavensשָׁמַ֜יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064shall vanish awayנִמְלָ֙חוּ֙nim.La.chuH4414like smokeכֶּעָשָׁ֤ןke.'a.ShanH6227,and the earthוְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ve.ha.'A.retzH776shall wax oldתִּבְלֶ֔הtiv.LehH1086like a garmentכַּבֶּ֣גֶדka.Be.gedH899,and they that dwellוְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָve.yo.she.Vei.haH3427therein shall dieיְמוּת֑וּןye.mu.TunH4191in likeכְּמוֹ־ke.mov-H3644mannerכֵ֣ןkhenH3654:but my salvationוִישֽׁוּעָתִי֙vi.shu.'a.TiH3444shall be for everלְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.LamH5769,and my righteousnessוְצִדְקָתִ֖יve.tzid.ka.TiH6666shall not be abolishedתֵחָֽת׃ סte.ChatH2865.

7Hearkenשִׁמְע֤וּshim.'UH8085unto me, ye that knowיֹ֣דְעֵיYo.de.'eiH3045righteousnessצֶ֔דֶקTze.dekH6664,the peopleעַ֖ם'amH5971in whose heartבְלִבָּ֑םve.li.BamH3820ismy lawתּוֹרָתִ֣יto.ra.TiH8451;fearתִּֽירְאוּ֙ti.re.'UH3372ye not the reproachחֶרְפַּ֣תcher.PatH2781of menאֱנ֔וֹשׁ'e.No.oshH582,neither be ye afraidתֵּחָֽתּוּ׃te.Cha.tuH2865of their revilingsוּמִגִּדֻּפֹתָ֖םu.mi.gi.du.fo.TamH1421.

8For the mothעָ֔שׁ'AshH6211shall eat them upיֹאכְלֵ֣םyokh.LemH398like a garmentכַבֶּ֙גֶד֙kha.Be.gedH899,and the wormסָ֑סSasH5580shall eatיֹאכְלֵ֣םyokh.LemH398them like woolוְכַצֶּ֖מֶרve.kha.Tze.merH6785:but my righteousnessוְצִדְקָתִי֙ve.tzid.ka.TiH6666shall be for everלְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.LamH5769,and my salvationוִישׁוּעָתִ֖יvi.shu.'a.TiH3444from generationלְד֥וֹרle.DorH1755to generationדּוֹרִֽים׃ סdo.RimH1755.

9Awakeעוּרִ֨י'u.RiH5782,awakeעוּרִ֤י'u.RiH5782,put onלִבְשִׁי־liv.shi-H3847strengthעֹז֙'ozH5797,O armזְר֣וֹעַze.Ro.a'H2220of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;awakeע֚וּרִי'U.riH5782,as in the ancientקֶ֔דֶםKe.demH6924daysכִּ֣ימֵיKi.meiH3117,in the generationsדֹּר֖וֹתdo.RotH1755of oldעוֹלָמִ֑יםo.la.MimH5769. Artthou not He that hath cutהַמַּחְצֶ֥בֶתha.mach.Tze.vetH2672Rahabרַ֖הַבRa.havH7294, andwoundedמְחוֹלֶ֥לֶתme.cho.Le.letH2490the dragonתַּנִּֽין׃ta.NinH8577?

10Artthou not He which hath driedהַמַּחֲרֶ֣בֶתha.ma.cha.Re.vetH2717the seaיָ֔םYamH3220,the watersמֵ֖יmeiH4325of the greatרַבָּ֑הra.BahH7227deepתְּה֣וֹםte.HomH8415;that hath madeהַשָּׂ֙מָה֙ha.Sa.mahH7760the depthsמַֽעֲמַקֵּי־ma.'a.ma.kei-H4615of the seaיָ֔םYamH3220a wayדֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekhH1870for the ransomedגְּאוּלִֽים׃ge.'u.LimH1350to pass overלַעֲבֹ֥רla.'a.VorH5674?

11Therefore the redeemedוּפְדוּיֵ֨יu.fe.du.YeiH6299of Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068shall returnיְשׁוּב֗וּןye.shu.VunH7725,and comeוּבָ֤אוּu.Va.'uH935with singingבְּרִנָּ֔הbe.ri.NahH7440unto Zionצִיּוֹן֙tzi.yOnH6726;and everlastingעוֹלָ֖םo.LamH5769joyוְשִׂמְחַ֥תve.sim.ChatH8057shall beupon their headרֹאשָׁ֑םro.ShamH7218:they shall obtainיַשִּׂיג֔וּןya.si.GunH5381gladnessשָׂשׂ֤וֹןsa.SonH8342and joyוְשִׂמְחָה֙ve.sim.ChahH8057; andsorrowיָג֥וֹןya.GonH3015and mourningוַאֲנָחָֽה׃ סva.'a.na.ChahH585shall flee awayנָ֖סוּNa.suH5127.

12I, even I, amhe that comfortethמְנַחֶמְכֶ֑םme.na.chem.KhemH5162you: who artthou, that thou shouldest be afraidוַתִּֽירְאִי֙va.ti.re.'IH3372of a manמֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁme.'e.No.oshH582thatshall dieיָמ֔וּתya.MutH4191,and of the sonוּמִבֶּן־u.mi.ben-H1121of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120whichshall be madeיִנָּתֵֽן׃yi.na.TenH5414asgrassחָצִ֥ירcha.TzirH2682;

13And forgettestוַתִּשְׁכַּ֞חva.tish.KachH7911Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy makerעֹשֶׂ֗ךָ'o.Se.khaH6213,that hath stretched forthנוֹטֶ֣הno.TehH5186the heavensשָׁמַיִם֮sha.ma.YimH8064,and laid the foundationsוְיֹסֵ֣דve.yo.SedH3245of the earthאָרֶץ֒'a.RetzH776;and hast fearedוַתְּפַחֵ֨דva.te.fa.ChedH6342continuallyתָּמִ֜ידta.MidH8548every dayהַיּ֗וֹםhai.YomH3117becauseמִפְּנֵי֙mi.pe.NeiH6440of the furyחֲמַ֣תcha.MatH2534of the oppressorהַמֵּצִ֔יקha.me.TzikH6693,as ifכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834he were readyכּוֹנֵ֖ןko.NenH3559to destroyלְהַשְׁחִ֑יתle.hash.ChitH7843? and where isthe furyחֲמַ֥תcha.MatH2534of the oppressorהַמֵּצִֽיק׃ha.me.TzikH6693?

14The captive exileצֹעֶ֖הtzo.'EhH6808hastenethמִהַ֥רmi.HarH4116that he may be loosedלְהִפָּתֵ֑חַle.hi.pa.Te.achH6605,and that he should not dieיָמ֣וּתya.MutH4191in the pitלַשַּׁ֔חַתla.Sha.chatH7845,nor that his breadלַחְמֽוֹ׃lach.MoH3899should failיֶחְסַ֖רyech.SarH2637.

15But I amYhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,that dividedרֹגַ֣עro.Ga'H7280the seaהַיָּ֔םhai.YamH3220,whose wavesגַּלָּ֑יוga.LavH1530roaredוַיֶּהֱמ֖וּvai.ye.he.MuH1993:Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068of Armiesצְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otH6635ishis nameשְׁמֽוֹ׃she.MoH8034.

16And I have putוָאָשִׂ֤יםva.'a.SimH7760my wordsדְּבָרַי֙de.va.RaiH1697in thy mouthבְּפִ֔יךָbe.Fi.khaH6310,and I have coveredכִּסִּיתִ֑יךָki.si.Ti.khaH3680thee in the shadowוּבְצֵ֥לu.ve.TzelH6738of mine handיָדִ֖יya.DiH3027,that I may plantלִנְטֹ֤עַlin.To.a'H5193the heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙sha.Ma.yimH8064,and lay the foundationsוְלִיסֹ֣דve.li.SodH3245of the earthאָ֔רֶץ'A.retzH776,and sayוְלֵאמֹ֥רve.le.MorH559unto Zionלְצִיּ֖וֹןle.tzi.YonH6726, Thou artmy peopleעַמִּי־'a.mi-H5971.

17Awakeהִתְעוֹרְרִ֣יhit.'o.RiH5782,awakeהִֽתְעוֹרְרִ֗יhit.'o.RiH5782,stand upק֚וּמִיKu.miH6965,O Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389,which hast drunkשָׁתִ֛יתsha.TitH8354at the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068the cupכּ֣וֹסKosH3563of his furyחֲמָת֑וֹcha.ma.ToH2534;thou hast drunkenשָׁתִ֖יתsha.TitH8354the dregsקֻבַּ֜עַתku.Ba.'atH6907of the cupכּ֧וֹסKosH3563of tremblingהַתַּרְעֵלָ֛הha.tar.'e.LahH8653, and wrung themoutמָצִֽית׃ma.TzitH4680.

18There isnone to guideמְנַהֵ֣לme.na.HelH5095her among all the sonsבָּנִ֖יםba.NimH1121whomshe hath brought forthיָלָ֑דָהya.La.dahH3205; neither is there anythat takethמַחֲזִיק֙ma.cha.ZikH2388her by the handבְּיָדָ֔הּbe.ya.DahH3027of all the sonsבָּנִ֖יםba.NimH1121thatshe hath brought upגִּדֵּֽלָה׃gi.De.lahH1431.

19These twoשְׁתַּ֤יִםshe.Ta.yimH8147thingsare comeקֹֽרְאֹתַ֔יִךְko.re.'o.Ta.yikhH7122unto thee; who shall be sorryיָנ֣וּדya.NudH5110for thee? desolationהַשֹּׁ֧דha.ShodH7701,and destructionוְהַשֶּׁ֛בֶרve.ha.She.verH7667,and the famineוְהָרָעָ֥בve.ha.ra.'AvH7458,and the swordוְהַחֶ֖רֶבve.ha.Che.revH2719:by whom shall I comfortאֲנַחֲמֵֽךְ׃'a.na.cha.MekhH5162thee?

20Thy sonsבָּנַ֜יִךְba.Na.yikhH1121have faintedעֻלְּפ֥וּ'u.le.FuH5968,they lieשָׁכְב֛וּsha.khe.VuH7901at the headבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218of all the streetsחוּצ֖וֹתchu.TzotH2351,as a wild bullכְּת֣וֹאke.To'H8377in a netמִכְמָ֑רmikh.MarH4364:they are fullהַֽמְלֵאִ֥יםham.le.'ImH4392of the furyחֲמַת־cha.mat-H2534of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,the rebukeגַּעֲרַ֥תga.'a.RatH1606of thy Godאֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃'e.lo.Ha.yikhH430.

21Therefore hearשִׁמְעִי־shim.'i-H8085now this, thou afflictedעֲנִיָּ֑ה'a.ni.YahH6041,and drunkenוּשְׁכֻרַ֖תu.she.khu.RatH7937,but not with wineמִיָּֽיִן׃ סmi.Ya.yinH3196:

22Thus saithאָמַ֞ר'a.MarH559thy Lordאֲדֹנַ֣יִךְ'a.do.Na.yikhH113Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,and thy Godוֵאלֹהַ֙יִךְ֙ve.lo.Ha.yikhH430thatpleadethיָרִ֣יבya.RivH7378the cause of his peopleעַמּ֔וֹa.MoH5971,Behold, I have taken outלָקַ֛חְתִּיla.Kach.tiH3947of thine handמִיָּדֵ֖ךְmi.ya.DekhH3027the cupכּ֣וֹסKosH3563of tremblingהַתַּרְעֵלָ֑הha.tar.'e.LahH8653, eventhe dregsקֻבַּ֙עַת֙ku.Ba.'atH6907of the cupכּ֣וֹסKosH3563of my furyחֲמָתִ֔יcha.ma.TiH2534;thou shalt no moreתוֹסִ֥יפִיto.Si.fiH3254drink it againלִשְׁתּוֹתָ֖הּlish.to.TahH8354:

23But I will putוְשַׂמְתִּ֙יהָ֙ve.sam.Ti.haH7760it into the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of them that afflictמוֹגַ֔יִךְmo.Ga.yikhH3013thee; which have saidאָמְר֥וּ'a.me.RuH559to thy soulלְנַפְשֵׁ֖ךְle.naf.ShekhH5315,Bow downשְׁחִ֣יshe.ChiH7812,that we may go overוְנַעֲבֹ֑רָהve.na.'a.Vo.rahH5674:and thou hast laidוַתָּשִׂ֤ימִיva.ta.Si.miH7760thy bodyגֵּוֵ֔ךְge.VekhH1460as the groundכָאָ֙רֶץ֙kha.'A.retzH776,and as the streetוְכַח֖וּץve.kha.ChutzH2351,to them that went overלַעֹבְרִֽים׃ סla.'oe.RimH5674.

Commentaries on Isaiah 51