Yesaya 52:4-9

52:4 For this is what the sovereign Lord says:

“In the beginning my people went to live temporarily in Egypt;

Assyria oppressed them for no good reason.

52:5 And now, what do we have here?” ¹  says the Lord.

“Indeed my people have been carried away for nothing,

those who rule over them taunt,” ²  says the Lord,

“and my name is constantly slandered ³  all day long.

52:6 For this reason my people will know my name,

for this reason they will know ⁴  at that time ⁵  that I am the one who says,

‘Here I am.’”

52:7 How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains ⁶ 

the feet of a messenger who announces peace,

a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance,

who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” ⁷ 

52:8 Listen, ⁸  your watchmen shout;

in unison they shout for joy,

for they see with their very own eyes ⁹ 

the Lord’s return to Zion.

52:9 In unison give a joyful shout,

O ruins of Jerusalem!

For the Lord consoles his people;

he protects ¹⁰  Jerusalem.

[52:5]  ¹ tn Heb “and now what [following the marginal reading (Qere)] to me here?”

[52:5]  ² tn The verb appears to be a Hiphil form from the root יָלַל (yalal, “howl”), perhaps here in the sense of “mock.” Some emend the form to יְהוֹלָּלוֹ (yÿhollalo) and understand a Polel form of the root הָלַל meaning here “mock, taunt.”

[52:5]  ³ tn The verb is apparently a Hitpolal form (with assimilated tav, ת) from the root נָאַץ (na’ats), but GKC 151-52 §55.b explains it as a mixed form, combining Pual and Hitpolel readings.

[52:6]  ⁴ tn The verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[52:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “in that day” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[52:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “How delightful on the mountains.”

[52:7]  ⁷ tn Or “has become king.” When a new king was enthroned, his followers would give this shout. For other examples of this enthronement formula (Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular מָלַךְ [malakh], followed by the name of the king), see 2 Sam 15:10; 1 Kgs 1:11, 13, 18; 2 Kgs 9:13. The Lord is an eternal king, but here he is pictured as a victorious warrior who establishes his rule from Zion.

[52:8]  ⁸ tn קוֹל (qol, “voice”) is used at the beginning of the verse as an interjection.

[52:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “eye in eye”; KJV, ASV “eye to eye”; NAB “directly, before their eyes.”

[52:9]  ¹⁰ tn Or “redeems.” See the note at 41:14.