Yesaya 57:15

57:15 For this is what the high and exalted one says,

the one who rules ¹  forever, whose name is holy:

“I dwell in an exalted and holy place,

but also with the discouraged and humiliated, ² 

in order to cheer up the humiliated

and to encourage the discouraged. ³ 

Yesaya 12:1

12:1 At that time ⁴  you will say:

“I praise you, O Lord,

for even though you were angry with me,

your anger subsided, and you consoled me.

Yesaya 61:2-3

61:2 to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor,

the day when our God will seek vengeance, ⁵ 

to console all who mourn,

61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy, ⁶  instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise, ⁷  instead of discouragement. ⁸ 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, ⁹ 

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. ¹⁰ 

Yesaya 66:10-13

66:10 Be happy for Jerusalem

and rejoice with her, all you who love her!

Share in her great joy,

all you who have mourned over her!

66:11 For ¹¹  you will nurse from her satisfying breasts and be nourished; ¹² 

you will feed with joy from her milk-filled breasts. ¹³ 

66:12 For this is what the Lord says:

“Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river,

the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. ¹⁴ 

You will nurse from her breast ¹⁵  and be carried at her side;

you will play on her knees.

66:13 As a mother consoles a child, ¹⁶ 

so I will console you,

and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”

[57:15]  ¹ tn Heb “the one who dwells forever.” שֹׁכֵן עַד (shokhen ’ad) is sometimes translated “the one who lives forever,” and understood as a reference to God’s eternal existence. However, the immediately preceding and following descriptions (“high and exalted” and “holy”) emphasize his sovereign rule. In the next line, he declares, “I dwell in an exalted and holy [place],” which refers to the place from which he rules. Therefore it is more likely that שֹׁכֵן עַד (shokhen ’ad) means “I dwell [in my lofty palace] forever” and refers to God’s eternal kingship.

[57:15]  ² tn Heb “and also with the crushed and lowly of spirit.” This may refer to the repentant who have humbled themselves (see 66:2) or more generally to the exiles who have experienced discouragement and humiliation.

[57:15]  ³ tn Heb “to restore the lowly of spirit and to restore the heart of the crushed.”

[12:1]  ⁴ tn Or “in that day” (KJV).

[61:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “to announce the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance.

[61:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

[61:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “garment of praise.”

[61:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

[61:3]  ⁹ tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”

[61:3]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”

[66:11]  ¹¹ tn Or “in order that”; ASV, NRSV “that.”

[66:11]  ¹² tn Heb “you will suck and be satisfied, from her comforting breast.”

[66:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “you will slurp and refresh yourselves from her heavy breast.”

[66:11]  sn Zion’s residents will benefit from and enjoy her great material prosperity. See v. 12.

[66:12]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Look, I am ready to extend to her like a river prosperity [or “peace”], and like an overflowing stream, the riches of nations.”

[66:12]  ¹⁵ tn The words “from her breast” are supplied in the translation for clarification (see v. 11).

[66:13]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “like a man whose mother comforts him.”