Isaiah 29:17-21
New English Translation
Changes Are Coming
17 In just a very short time[a]
Lebanon will turn into an orchard,
and the orchard will be considered a forest.[b]
18 At that time[c] the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll,
and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.[d]
19 The downtrodden will again rejoice in the Lord;
the poor among humankind will take delight[e] in the Holy One of Israel.[f]
20 For tyrants will disappear,
those who taunt will vanish,
and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated[g]—
21 those who bear false testimony against a person,[h]
who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate[i]
and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges.[j]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 29:17 tn The Hebrew text phrases this as a rhetorical question, “Is it not yet a little, a short [time]?”
- Isaiah 29:17 sn The meaning of this verse is debated, but it seems to depict a reversal in fortunes. The mighty forest of Lebanon (symbolic of the proud and powerful; see 2:13; 10:34) will be changed into a common orchard, while the common orchard (symbolic of the oppressed and lowly) will grow into a great forest. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:538.
- Isaiah 29:18 tn Or “In that day” (KJV).
- Isaiah 29:18 tn Heb “and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”sn Perhaps this depicts the spiritual transformation of the once spiritually insensitive nation (see vv. 10-12, cf. also 6:9-10).
- Isaiah 29:19 tn Or “will rejoice” (NIV, NCV, NLT).
- Isaiah 29:19 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
- Isaiah 29:20 tn Heb “and all the watchers of wrong will be cut off.”
- Isaiah 29:21 tn Heb “the ones who make a man a sinner with a word.” The Hiphil of חָטָא (khataʾ) here has a delocutive sense: “declare a man sinful/guilty.”
- Isaiah 29:21 sn Legal disputes were resolved at the city gate, where the town elders met. See Amos 5:10.
- Isaiah 29:21 tn Heb “and deprive by emptiness the innocent.”
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