Yesaya 51:7

51:7 Listen to me, you who know what is right,

you people who are aware of my law! ¹ 

Don’t be afraid of the insults of men;

don’t be discouraged because of their abuse!

Yesaya 51:12

51:12 “I, I am the one who consoles you. ² 

Why are you afraid of mortal men,

of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass? ³ 

Yesaya 54:4

54:4 Don’t be afraid, for you will not be put to shame!

Don’t be intimidated, ⁴  for you will not be humiliated!

You will forget about the shame you experienced in your youth;

you will no longer remember the disgrace of your abandonment. ⁵ 

Yesaya 54:14

54:14 You will be reestablished when I vindicate you. ⁶ 

You will not experience oppression; ⁷ 

indeed, you will not be afraid.

You will not be terrified, ⁸ 

for nothing frightening ⁹  will come near you.

[51:7]  ¹ tn Heb “people (who have) my law in their heart.”

[51:12]  ² tc The plural suffix should probably be emended to the second masculine singular (which is used in v. 13). The final mem (ם) is probably dittographic; note the mem at the beginning of the next word.

[51:12]  ³ tn Heb “Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who [as] grass is given up?” The feminine singular forms should probably be emended to the masculine singular (see v. 13). They have probably been influenced by the construction אַתְּ־הִיא (’at-hi’) in vv. 9-10.

[54:4]  ⁴ tn Or “embarrassed”; NASB “humiliated…disgraced.”

[54:4]  ⁵ tn Another option is to translate, “the disgrace of our widowhood” (so NRSV). However, the following context (vv. 6-7) refers to Zion’s husband, the Lord, abandoning her, not dying. This suggests that an אַלְמָנָה (’almanah) was a woman who had lost her husband, whether by death or abandonment.

[54:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “in righteousness [or “vindication”] you will be established.” The precise meaning of צְדָקָה (tsÿdaqah) here is uncertain. It could mean “righteousness, justice,” indicating that the city will be a center for justice. But the context focuses on deliverance, suggesting that the term means “deliverance, vindication” here.

[54:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “Be far from oppression!” The imperative is used here in a rhetorical manner to express certainty and assurance. See GKC 324 §110.c.

[54:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “from terror.” The rhetorical command, “be far” is understood by ellipsis here. Note the preceding context.

[54:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “it,” i.e., the “terror” just mentioned.