44:23 Shout for joy, O sky, for the Lord intervenes; 1
shout out, you subterranean regions 2 of the earth.
O mountains, give a joyful shout;
you too, O forest and all your trees! 3
For the Lord protects 4 Jacob;
he reveals his splendor through Israel. 5
51:3 Certainly the Lord will console Zion;
he will console all her ruins.
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the Garden of the Lord.
Happiness and joy will be restored to 6 her,
thanksgiving and the sound of music.
54:1 “Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth!
Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one are more numerous
than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,
by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,
oil symbolizing joy, 7 instead of mourning,
a garment symbolizing praise, 8 instead of discouragement. 9
They will be called oaks of righteousness, 10
trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. 11
66:5 Hear the word of the Lord,
you who respect what he has to say! 12
Your countrymen, 13 who hate you
and exclude you, supposedly for the sake of my name,
say, “May the Lord be glorified,
then we will witness your joy.” 14
But they will be put to shame.
1 tn Heb “acts”; NASB, NRSV “has done it”; NLT “has done this wondrous thing.”
2 tn Heb “lower regions.” This refers to Sheol and forms a merism with “sky” in the previous line. See Pss 63:9; 71:20.
3 tn Heb “O forest and all the trees in it”; NASB, NRSV “and every tree in it.”
4 tn Heb “redeems.” See the note at 41:14.
5 tn That is, by delivering Israel. Cf. NCV “showed his glory when he saved Israel”; TEV “has shown his greatness by saving his people Israel.”
6 tn Heb “found in” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
7 tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”
8 tn Heb “garment of praise.”
9 tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”
10 tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”
11 tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”
12 tn Heb “who tremble at his word.”
13 tn Heb “brothers” (so NASB, NIV); NRSV “Your own people”; NLT “Your close relatives.”
14 tn Or “so that we might witness your joy.” The point of this statement is unclear.