2tn Heb “or his ear too heavy [i.e., “dull”] to hear.”

3tn Heb “and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear.”

4tn Heb “no one pleads with justice.”

5tn Heb “nothing”; NAB “emptiness.”

6tn Or “trouble” (NIV), or “harm.”

7tn Heb “that which is pressed in hatches [as] a snake.”

8tn Heb “their deeds are deeds of sin, and the work of violence [is] in their hands.”

9tn Heb “their feet run to evil.”

10tn Heb “they quickly pour out innocent blood.”

11tn Heb “their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways.”

12tn Heb “a way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their pathways.”

13tn Heb “their paths they make crooked, everyone who walks in it does not know peace.”

14tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.

15sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.

16sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.

17tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”

18tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

19tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

20tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”

21tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

22tn Heb “like there are no eyes.”

23tn Heb among the strong, like dead men.”

24tn See the note at v. 9.

25tn Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”

26tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”

27tn Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

28tn Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”

29tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”

30tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).

31tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”

32tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”

33tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”

34tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”

35tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”

36tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”

37tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”

38tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”

39tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”

40tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”

41tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).

42tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read “see.”

43tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”

44tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”

45tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”

46tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).

47tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

48tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”

49tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”

sn The Lord promises the repentant (note “to them”) that they and their offspring will possess his spirit and function as his spokesmen. In this regard they follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s special servant. See 42:1; 49:2; 51:16.

50tn Heb “from now and on into the future.”