Isaiah 51:4-6
4 Pay attention to me, my people.
Listen to me, my people!
For ▼
▼tn Or “certainly.”
I will issue a decree, ▼▼tn Heb “instruction [or “a law”] will go out from me.”
I will make my justice a light to the nations. ▼
▼tn Heb “and my justice for a light to the nations I will cause to rest.”
5 I am ready to vindicate, ▼
▼tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”] is near.”
I am ready to deliver, ▼
▼tn Heb “my deliverance goes forth.”
I will establish justice among the nations. ▼
▼tn Heb “and my arms will judge [on behalf of] nations.”
The coastlands ▼
▼tn Or “islands” (NIV); TEV “Distant lands.”
wait patiently for me; they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power. ▼
▼tn Heb “for my arm” (so NIV, NRSV).
6 Look up at the sky.
Look at the earth below.
For the sky will dissipate ▼
▼tn Heb “will be torn in pieces.” The perfect indicates the certitude of the event, from the Lord’s rhetorical perspective.
like smoke, and the earth will wear out like clothes;
its residents will die like gnats.
But the deliverance I give ▼
▼tn Heb “my deliverance.” The same Hebrew word can also be translated “salvation” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); cf. CEV “victory.”
is permanent; the vindication I provide ▼
▼tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”].”
will not disappear. ▼▼tn Heb “will not be shattered [or “dismayed”].”
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