For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height: Most versions take the Hebrew particle ki rendered For as an emphatic marker, and leave it implied (so Good News Translation). However, it is more likely a logical connector introducing the second reason for trusting Yahweh. He can be trusted because he has humbled proud leaders. The Hebrew verb rendered brought low is translated “bring down” in 25.12. There it refers to bringing down walls, but here to humbling the proud (see Good News Translation). The Hebrew term rendered height is translated “heavens” in 24.4 (see the comments there). This word can refer to high places (such as the sky), top leaders, or people who are proud and arrogant. It probably refers to proud leaders in this context. The English phrase “high and mighty” expresses it well here.

The lofty city may be in apposition to the inhabitants of the height (so Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible; see also the first example below), or it may refer to something else brought low by the LORD (so Good News Translation, New International Version; see also the second example below). It may be the cities of Moab (25.12), or any city in general. Lofty could mean it is built well with high structures (so Revised English Bible “towering city” and Good News Translation “strong city”), or it is built in a high secure area (so Contemporary English Version “mountain city”).

He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust: These three clauses repeat the language of 25.12. They are a powerful and emphatic statement of what Yahweh does. Good News Translation and Revised English Bible combine the first two clauses, but translators should keep both if possible (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project). The second clause builds on the first one by adding the phrase to the ground. The third clause further emphasizes the complete destruction of the city and its proud inhabitants. The verb casts pictures Yahweh actually throwing the city down into the dust. The phrases to the ground and to the dust are parallel.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• For he humbles those who occupy high places, the city on the heights;
he levels it, levels it to the ground and flings it into the dust.

• Because Yahweh humbles those who are arrogant;
he razes the city on the heights, razes it to the ground, casting it into the dust.

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 .