Against all the high mountains, and against all the lofty hills: The prophet continues to describe the coming time of judgment by adding further examples of things that are metaphors for human arrogance and pride since they are high by nature. Good News Translation uses the verb “level” to make explicit what will happen to the mountains and hills. This may help translators give the correct sense. However, Good News Translation collapses both lines into one, thus reducing their impact. Wherever possible, translators should follow the pattern of the previous lines, and render this verse quite literally. As in the previous verse, translators can give a hint here that the prophet has proud people in mind. Translation examples for this verse are:

• It [Yahweh’s time of judgment] will be against all who are like tall mountains,
all who resemble giant hills.

• He will bring down all the proud people,
as if he were leveling mountains and hills.

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 .