42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,
a dim wick he will not extinguish; 1
he will faithfully make just decrees. 2
42:4 He will not grow dim or be crushed 3
before establishing justice on the earth;
the coastlands 4 will wait in anticipation for his decrees.” 5
1 sn The “crushed reed” and “dim wick” symbolize the weak and oppressed who are on the verge of extinction.
2 tn Heb “faithfully he will bring out justice” (cf. NASB, NRSV).
3 tn For rhetorical effect the terms used to describe the “crushed (רָצַץ, ratsats) reed” and “dim (כָּהָה, kahah) wick” in v. 3 are repeated here.
4 tn Or “islands” (NIV); NLT “distant lands beyond the sea.”
5 tn Or “his law” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV) or “his instruction” (NLT).