For God will lead Israel with joy …: Translators may omit the connector For at the beginning of this verse. The Greek verb translated lead has definite overtones of “guide.” With joy describes Israel, not God. Good News Translation restructures this verse to make this clear and to take advantage of the fuller meaning of the verb lead. Good News Translation begins with the simple statement, “God will lead Israel home.” Since this is the last verse of the book, it would not be overdoing anything to say “Yes, God will lead Israel home.” Then it can be said that “They will return with [great] joy, guided by his mercy and righteousness….”

In the light of his glory: See the comments on verse 7. Here the connection of God’s glory with light is made explicit. Good News Translation “surrounded by the light of his glorious presence” is well put. This phrase may also be rendered “lit [or, illuminated] by his glorious presence.” However, this rendering does not work well in English. An alternative model for the last two lines of this verse is “God’s bright glory [or, light] will guide them, and as they travel he will be merciful and just [or, fair] toward them.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.