The Hebrew expressions for in vain and calamity (“sudden terror”) also occur in the curses in Lev 26.16. The curses in Leviticus were meant for those who disobeyed the LORD. The likely implication of the close link between the two texts is that all those living in the new creation will obey the LORD and so not be cursed.

They shall not labor in vain promises a life that offers satisfaction and a sense of purpose. The Hebrew verb for labor refers to growing very tired from hard work (see 40.28, where it is rendered “grow weary”). It implies more than simply “work.” Not labor in vain means there would be a reward or result for the hard work done (see the comments on 49.4). For this line Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “They won’t wear themselves out for nothing.” Good News Translation expresses it in a positive way: “The work they do will be successful.”

Or bear children for calamity: God also promises his people that their children will not be born only to meet some terrible misfortune. The Hebrew noun for calamity is used exclusively to refer to situations in which unexpected and terrifying death occurs. The RSV footnote translates it “sudden terror.” Bible en français courant renders this line as “and they will not have children only to see them die,” which is probably its basic sense.

For they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their children with them: The Hebrew particle ki rendered for is most likely an emphatic marker here, so it is better translated “Indeed” or “Surely.” It emphasizes the positive future of God’s people, in contrast to the negated statements about their labor and bearing children. Two groups of people are in view here: the offspring of the blessed of the LORD and their children. The offspring of the blessed of the LORD are God’s people as a whole rather than the children of a select few. So Good News Translation is probably correct in saying simply “I will bless them,” referring to all of them rather than to children of the blessed ones only. Their children are all the descendants of the people blessed by the LORD (see 44.3, where the Hebrew word for children is rendered “offspring”). These two lines refer to only two generations, but they imply that God will bless many generations of his people. Good News Translation expresses that sense well with “I will bless them and their descendants for all time to come.” In this context the blessing includes keeping the people safe from unexpected death and giving them worthwhile and rewarding work.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• They will not toil without reward,
nor will they have children who die a sudden death.
Indeed, they will be a people blessed by the LORD,
they and their descendants.

• They will not labor without getting a due reward,
nor will they give birth to children that meet with some disaster.
Indeed, they will be a people blessed by the LORD,
along with their descendants.

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 .