Seek and read from the book of the LORD: What is the book of the LORD that the prophet asks his readers to consult? For some scholars it refers to a book containing Isaiah’s earlier statements including 13.21-22; for others it is a literary device referring to the prophet’s word from Yahweh rather than to a specific written document; for still others it is God’s heavenly record (Good News Translation “the LORD’s book of living creatures”). The book of the LORD could be a scroll that Yahweh himself has written (subjective genitive), or a scroll that contains the words or judgments by Yahweh (objective genitive). Both are possible.
The words that follow seem to be a quotation from the scroll, so we can introduce them with “It states:…” or “It says:….” Bible en français courant begins the quote by rendering the first line as “If you read in the book of the Lord, you can read this:….” Good News Translation is similar with “Search in the LORD’s book of living creatures and read what it says….”
Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate: The pronoun these probably refers to the creatures mentioned in the previous verses. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “these creatures.” Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch are not as explicit as Good News Translation, but they hint at the same interpretation. None shall be without her mate is literally “a woman her companion they will not lack.” Although the phrase “a woman her companion” applied only to the kites in the previous verse (see the comments there), here it describes all the creatures named earlier. For these two lines Bible en français courant has “Not one of them stays behind, not a single one is absent.”
For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them: This is the fifth time the Hebrew particle ki rendered For is a logical connector in this section (see the introductory comments [34.1-17]). The prophet assures his readers that the abandoned land of Edom will be taken over by wild creatures because Yahweh has commanded it and has gathered them together. The mouth of the LORD refers to his words, so the mouth of LORD has commanded may be rendered “this is what Yahweh has commanded” (similarly Good News Translation). His Spirit refers to God’s power as in 11.2 and 32.15 (see the comments there). The pronoun them refers to the animals and birds mentioned earlier. For these two lines Bible en français courant has “they are at the command of the Lord, it is his Spirit that assembles them.”
Translation examples for this verse are:
• Find and read Yahweh’s scroll!
It says: “Not one of them will be lacking,
each will have her companion;
for Yahweh’s mouth has commanded it,
his spirit has gathered them.”
• Search out and read Yahweh’s scroll!
It says: “None of them will be missing,
each will have her companion,
because he has commanded it thus,
his power has brought them together.”
• In the book of the LORD, you can read this:
“Not one of them will be left behind,
not a single one will be absent;
they are at the command of the LORD,
it is his spirit that assembles them.”
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .