Yesaya 51:4-6

51:4 Pay attention to me, my people!

Listen to me, my people!

For ¹  I will issue a decree, ² 

I will make my justice a light to the nations. ³ 

51:5 I am ready to vindicate, ⁴ 

I am ready to deliver, ⁵ 

I will establish justice among the nations. ⁶ 

The coastlands ⁷  wait patiently for me;

they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power. ⁸ 

51:6 Look up at the sky!

Look at the earth below!

For the sky will dissipate ⁹  like smoke,

and the earth will wear out like clothes;

its residents will die like gnats.

But the deliverance I give ¹⁰  is permanent;

the vindication I provide ¹¹  will not disappear. ¹² 

[51:4]  ¹ tn Or “certainly.”

[51:4]  ² tn Heb “instruction [or “a law”] will go out from me.”

[51:4]  ³ tn Heb “and my justice for a light to the nations I will cause to rest.”

[51:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”] is near.”

[51:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “my deliverance goes forth.”

[51:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “and my arms will judge [on behalf of] nations.”

[51:5]  ⁷ tn Or “islands” (NIV); TEV “Distant lands.”

[51:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “for my arm” (so NIV, NRSV).

[51:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “will be torn in pieces.” The perfect indicates the certitude of the event, from the Lord’s rhetorical perspective.

[51:6]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “my deliverance.” The same Hebrew word can also be translated “salvation” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); cf. CEV “victory.”

[51:6]  ¹¹ tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”].”

[51:6]  ¹² tn Heb “will not be shattered [or “dismayed”].”