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11 “O afflicted one, driven away,[a] and unconsoled!
Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundation with lapis lazuli.
12 I will make your pinnacles out of gems,[b]
your gates out of beryl,[c]
and your outer wall[d] out of beautiful[e] stones.
13 All your children will be followers of the Lord,
and your children will enjoy great prosperity.[f]
14 You will be reestablished when I vindicate you.[g]
You will not experience oppression;[h]
indeed, you will not be afraid.
You will not be terrified,[i]
for nothing frightening[j] will come near you.
15 If anyone dares to[k] challenge you, it will not be my doing!
Whoever tries to challenge you will be defeated.[l]
16 Look, I create the craftsman,
who fans the coals into a fire
and forges a weapon.[m]
I create the destroyer so he might devastate.
17 No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed;
you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you.[n]
This is what the Lord will do for his servants—
I will vindicate them,”[o]
says the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 54:11 tn Or, more literally, “windblown, storm-tossed.”
  2. Isaiah 54:12 tn Perhaps, “rubies” (so ASV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
  3. Isaiah 54:12 tn On the meaning of אֶקְדָּח (ʾeqdakh), which occurs only here, see HALOT 82 s.v.
  4. Isaiah 54:12 tn Heb “border” (so ASV); NASB “your entire wall.”
  5. Isaiah 54:12 tn Heb “delightful”; KJV “pleasant.”
  6. Isaiah 54:13 tn Heb “and great [will be] the peace of your sons.”
  7. Isaiah 54:14 tn Heb “in righteousness [or “vindication”] you will be established.” The precise meaning of צְדָקָה (tsedaqah) 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.
  8. Isaiah 54:14 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.
  9. Isaiah 54:14 tn Heb “from terror.” The rhetorical command, “be far” is understood by ellipsis here. Note the preceding context.
  10. Isaiah 54:14 tn Heb “it,” i.e., the “terror” just mentioned.
  11. Isaiah 54:15 tn The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb here for emphasis.
  12. Isaiah 54:15 tn Heb “will fall over you.” The expression נָפַל עַל (nafal ʿal) can mean “attack,” but here it means “fall over to,” i.e., “surrender to.”
  13. Isaiah 54:16 tn Heb “who brings out an implement for his work.”
  14. Isaiah 54:17 tn Heb “and every tongue that rises up for judgment with you will prove to be guilty.”
  15. Isaiah 54:17 tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication from me.”

11 “Afflicted(A) city, lashed by storms(B) and not comforted,(C)
    I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,[a](D)
    your foundations(E) with lapis lazuli.(F)
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
    your gates(G) of sparkling jewels,
    and all your walls of precious stones.
13 All your children will be taught by the Lord,(H)
    and great will be their peace.(I)
14 In righteousness(J) you will be established:(K)
Tyranny(L) will be far from you;
    you will have nothing to fear.(M)
Terror(N) will be far removed;
    it will not come near you.
15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
    whoever attacks you will surrender(O) to you.

16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith(P)
    who fans the coals into flame
    and forges a weapon(Q) fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer(R) to wreak havoc;
17     no weapon forged against you will prevail,(S)
    and you will refute(T) every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants(U) of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication(V) from me,”
declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 54:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.