I have seen his ways: Yahweh knows what kind of life his people have been living. For ways see the previous verse. Revised English Bible translates this clause as “I have seen his conduct.” Another possible model is “I know all about what they do.”

But I will heal him: Even though God knows the lifestyle of his people, he will restore them to good health, something they cannot do for themselves. Both physical and spiritual health may be in view here. If so, God will not only heal his people physically, but he will also help them to worship him faithfully. All the versions consulted use the verb heal, except Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, which renders this line as “But now I restore him.” This model may be an option for languages where heal has only a physical sense.

I will lead him: Yahweh also promises to lead his people, implying that he will guide them along the correct ways. However, Revised English Bible emends the Hebrew verb rendered lead in Masoretic Text to read “give … relief,” and the Septuagint has a verb meaning “to comfort.” Most versions, including Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, accept Masoretic Text as correct.

And requite him with comfort means God will also reward his people with his comforting presence. The verb requite means “repay” (New Revised Standard Version) or “reward,” but the Hebrew verb here is shalem, which means to be in a covenant relationship that gives peace. So requite is better rendered “give peace.” The Hebrew noun rendered comfort (literally “compassions”) qualifies this verb. Revised English Bible renders this clause as “I shall bring him comfort in full measure,” and Bible en français courant has “I will comfort him!” The second line of this verse contains the promise that God will guide his people toward a new relationship with him, a relationship in which they can enjoy the comfort he provides.

Creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips means Yahweh will cause those who mourn to praise him. The Hebrew verb rendered creating is used exclusively elsewhere for God’s creative activity, so he is clearly the actor here. His mourners refers either to all those who are in mourning in Israel (so New International Version), or to those who mourn for Israel (so New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). If it is the Israelites, they are probably mourning for their sins to show repentance (see verse 15), rather than mourning the death of people. In languages where “to mourn” necessarily implies that someone died, it may be best to use a general expression for mourners, such as “those who are sad” or even “those who are repentant.” The fruit of the lips is an idiom for expressing thanksgiving or praise. Giving praise to God is probably in view here. He will turn the mourning into praise to himself. For this whole line Revised English Bible says “and on the lips of those who mourn I shall create words of praise” (similarly New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Another possible model is “creating for those who mourn words of thanksgiving.”

There is a different verse division here in Masoretic Text. For Masoretic Text the Hebrew word rendered for his mourners comes at the end of verse 18, while the words for creating and the fruit of the lips begin verse 19. Masoretic Text has literally “18 … I will restore comforts to him and to his mourners 19 I am about to create the fruit of lips….” Commentators generally agree that “to his mourners” belongs with the following line. However, it may link more closely to the previous one (see the second example below). Translators may place it with either line. We recommend that they follow the verse division in Masoretic Text or begin verse 19 with what is the last line of verse 18 in Revised Standard Version. Bible en français courant follows the first option by saying “18 … As for those who are mourning, 19 I will put on their lips cries of joy” (similarly Revised English Bible). New International Version follows the second option with “18 … 19 creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel….”

For the translation of verses 18-19a in Hebrew consider the following examples:

• 18 I have seen what he does, but I will bring healing;
I will guide him and comfort him.
19 To those who mourn [in Israel] I will create praise [for me].

• 18 I know what they do,
but I will restore them;
I will guide them,
and give comfort to them and to those who mourn them.
19 I will create [a song of] praise coming from them.

For the different verse division here in Masoretic Text, see the comments on the previous verse.

Peace, peace, to the far and to the near: The keyword peace (shalom in Hebrew) is repeated for emphasis and perhaps to reflect the repetition of the imperative verb “build up” in verse 14. For peace see the comments on 26.12 and 32.17. The sense of well-being and reconciliation conveyed in this term is promised to the far and to the near. These phrases refer to God’s people who live far away and nearby, so the whole community is in view. They could be the Jews living throughout the world, but in this context they are more likely just the returned exiles living throughout Judah. They are living near to, or far from, Jerusalem and the Temple. Good News Translation reverses the order of far and near, which other languages may find helpful for naturalness.

Says the LORD reminds the readers that this message comes from Yahweh.

For I will heal him, see the comments on verse 18.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• “Peace, peace to everyone near and far,” says the LORD,
“I will heal him [or, them].

• The LORD says, “Peace, peace to everyone whether living far away or living nearby,
I will bring healing.

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 .