45:8 O sky, rain down from above!
Let the clouds send down showers 1 of deliverance!
Let the earth absorb it 2 so salvation may grow, 3
and deliverance may sprout up 4 along with it.
I, the Lord, create it. 5
46:13 I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away;
I am bringing my salvation near, 6 it does not wait.
I will save Zion; 7
I will adorn Israel with my splendor.” 8
59:9 For this reason deliverance 9 is far from us 10
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light, 11 but see only darkness; 12
we wait for 13 a bright light, 14 but live 15 in deep darkness. 16
1 tn Heb “let the clouds drip with”; KJV “let the skies pour down.”
2 tn Heb “open up” (so NASB); NIV, NLT “open wide.”
3 tc The plural verb should be emended to a singular form. The vav (ו) ending is probably virtually dittographic (note the yod at the beginning of the following word).
4 tc The Hiphil verb form (תַצְמִיחַ, tatsmiakh) should probably be emended to a Qal (תִצְמַח, titsmakh). The יח sequence at the end of the form is probably due to dittography (note the following יַחַד, yakhad).
5 tn The masculine singular pronominal suffix probably refers back to יָשַׁע (yasha’, “salvation”).
6 tn Heb “my salvation.” The verb “I am bringing near” is understood by ellipsis (note the previous line).
7 tn Heb “I will place in Zion salvation”; NASB “I will grant salvation in Zion.”
8 tn Heb “to Israel my splendor”; KJV, ASV “for Israel my glory.”
9 tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
10 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
11 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
12 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
13 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
14 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
15 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
16 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.