This is a favorite verse for preachers, but they often take it out of context, without regard to its actual meaning. The text is literally “A mind of support you preserve [in] peace, [in] peace because in you confidence.” This means the LORD protects those with steadfast minds because they trust in him.

Thou dost keep him in perfect peace: The pronoun Thou refers to the LORD. Good News Translation and Bible en français courant make this explicit, which may be helpful in other languages. The verb keep refers to his protection. The pronoun him includes men and women in this context, so Good News Translation uses the plural “those.” The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) is repeated here for emphasis. Perfect peace or “complete peace” expresses it well. Translators may keep the repetition if it is appropriate (so New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh does this by rendering it “safety” both times.

Whose mind is stayed on thee: The Hebrew word for mind comes from a root meaning “to form/fashion.” The Hebrew verb here means “being supported/sustained” or “support/sustain.” So this whole line can mean “a mind that is being upheld” (that is, a dependent mind) or “a steadfast mind.” Most translations, including Good News Translation, see it as describing those with a fixed purpose or of firm resolve. Revised Standard Version adds on thee, which could be implied. This line is probably the object of the verb keep. There is emphasis on it in Hebrew since it occurs before the verb. The first two lines may be rendered “You preserve in complete peace those who have a firm resolve.” New International Version is similar with “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast.”

Because he trusts in thee: This gives the reason why the LORD guards a person with a steadfast mind. It is also possible that the Hebrew particle ki rendered because may be an emphatic marker here, so it may be translated “indeed.” Trusts renders a Hebrew noun meaning “confidence,” as in Psa 112.7.

The whole verse may be translated as follows:

• You preserve in complete peace those with a firm resolve
because in you they have confidence.

• You keep in complete peace those whose mind is firm,
indeed, in you is their confidence.

• You preserve in peace those with a firm resolve,
in peace since their confidence is in you.

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 .