After addressing Israel as his chosen servant (verses 8-10), the LORD speaks of the terrible fate for its enemies (verses 11-13). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation add a stanza break here.

Behold calls Israel’s attention to God’s following words of assurance to it. New American Bible and Bible en français courant render this emphatic word as “Yes,” while New International Version says “surely.” Translators should find an appropriate expression for the emphasis here.

All who are incensed against you refers to the enemies of Israel. The Hebrew verb rendered are incensed means “to be extremely angry.” For this whole clause New Jerusalem Bible says “all those who rage against you” (similarly New International Version).

Shall be put to shame and confounded renders two Hebrew verbs that are similar in meaning. They are used together to emphasize that Israel’s enemies will be utterly humiliated and disgraced by their failure to defeat Israel. New Revised Standard Version says “shall be ashamed and disgraced” (similarly New International Version), and Bible en français courant has “shame and dishonor.”

Those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish: These two lines are parallel to the previous two. They go a step further by saying Israel’s enemies will be annihilated. Those who strive against you refers to those who fight against Israel. Shall be as nothing means they will be totally destroyed. The Hebrew word rendered nothing is ʾayin. It was a keyword in the previous chapter (see the comments on 40.17) and is here also. This is the first time it occurs in chapter 41. It is repeated in verses 12, 17 (rendered “none”), 24, 26 (three times, rendered “none”), and 28 (twice, rendered “no”). Shall perish is similar in meaning to shall be as nothing. These two verbal expressions emphasize the complete destruction of all those who oppose God’s people. The last two lines may be rendered “Your enemies will be reduced to nothing, they will disappear” (similarly Bible en français courant).

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “Look, everyone who opposes you will be humiliated and disgraced;
anyone who attacks you will be destroyed and reduced to nothing.

• “Yes, any who oppose you will fail and suffer complete humiliation;
any who fight against you will come to nothing, they will be wiped out.

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 .