Sing to the LORD a new song: Here the prophet calls on his people in exile to praise Yahweh with a new song. The verb Sing is a plural imperative in Hebrew. The new song may have a connection with the “new things” in verse 9. However, it could also refer to a song with a new theme, one that replaces the complaint of the people referred to in 40.27. Instead of complaining that God has forgotten them in exile, they are to praise God who will show his power against their enemies. The phrase new song appears in a number of psalms (see, for example, Psa 33.3; 40.3; 96.1; 144.9).
His praise from the end of the earth is parallel to the previous line. Here the prophet extends the call to praise Yahweh to all people. The verb Sing is implied in this line. His praise refers to singing songs in praise of God. From the end of the earth points to people throughout the world, even those furthest away (see the comments on 5.26 and 40.28 for the similar expression “the ends of the earth”). For this whole line Good News Translation says “sing his praise, all the world,” and Revised English Bible has “sing his praise throughout the world.”
Let the sea roar and all that fills it: Instead of Let the sea roar, the Hebrew text of Masoretic Text has “Those who go down to the sea” (so RSV footnote), which refers to sailors. The prophet now invites them to praise Yahweh, which Good News Translation makes clear with “Praise him, you that sail the sea.” The verb Sing is implied here and in the next line also. However, several commentators support the emended text in Revised Standard Version. They argue that the phrase “those who go down” makes little sense in the context of the following phrase all that fills it. They support this proposed change by pointing to Psa 96.11 and 98.7, which have a similar line to the emended text. However, there is no textual evidence to support this change. Moreover, Masoretic Text makes good sense in this context. It gives a list of others who are to praise Yahweh in the last two lines of this verse. Except for RSV/NRSV and New American Bible, all the modern versions consulted follow Masoretic Text, which we recommend.
And all that fills it: The pronoun it refers back to the sea. The prophet now invites all the sea creatures to praise Yahweh. Good News Translation makes this clear with “praise him, all creatures of the sea” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Hebrew poetry often speaks of animals and inanimate things praising God as though they were human (see, for example, Psa 148.1-4). Since this is a feature of Hebrew poetry, translators should retain it, but may add a footnote explaining that the Israelites understood that everything God had created was able to praise him. Even the parts of creation that do not have voices can show how great God is by their very existence.
The coastlands and their inhabitants is parallel to the previous line. The prophet also invites those who live in distant coastal areas to praise Yahweh. He is not telling inanimate coastal areas to praise Yahweh, but the people living there. A possible model expressing this is “you distant coastal populations” (similarly Bible en français courant). For coastlands see the comments on Isa 42.4 and 41.1.
Some languages may prefer to begin the verse with the last two lines of this verse for naturalness; see the second example below.
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• Sing a new song to the LORD,
praise him from the ends of the world!
Praise him, you who sail the sea, and all you creatures in it,
you who inhabit the coastlands!
• You who sail the seas, and all you creatures who live there,
you who dwell on the distant islands,
sing a new song to Yahweh!
Praise him from the ends of the world!
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 .