The opening clause and they will look to the earth continues the previous verse (see the comments there). Some scholars have suggested that the word earth actually refers to the underworld, that is, the world of the dead. They cite Exo 15.12 and 1 Sam 28.13 as other passages where it has this sense. However, the term earth there still seems to refer to the ground itself, but ground in which the dead lie. What are they to look for? We presume that they are looking for help in their difficulties. Neither the king nor their gods (or God) are of help, so no matter where they look they see nothing but darkness.

But behold, distress and darkness: See the comments on 5.30. All they find as they search for help is further bitter distress and darkness. In this context behold may be expressed as a verb clause, for example, “all they will see is…” with the sense “all they will experience is….” Distress describes a life full of trouble, while darkness is a figure for their inability to find any help. These two terms may be combined into one expression, saying “dark distress.”

The gloom of anguish adds force to the previous phrase since they are synonymous. Gloom is parallel with darkness, carrying the sense of something dark and dismal, while anguish is parallel with distress, referring to pain and suffering.

And they will be thrust into thick darkness expresses the outcome of their search for help. Their search pushes them into thick darkness, a figure of speech for additional suffering and pain. Some commentators suggest that this is also a reference to the underworld. The verb here speaks of being banished. It is an emphatic way of indicating that there is no hope of rescue. The adjective thick describes a darkness that is so dense that a person cannot see anything. The passive verb will be thrust may need to be expressed as an active verb in some languages, but identifying the agent here is a challenge. If an active verb is needed here, a possible alternative for this clause is “Thick darkness will overtake them.” For some translators it may be necessary to make the metaphor of thick darkness clear; see the first translation suggestion below. Good News Translation combines this phrase with the previous one, saying “terrifying darkness into which they are being driven.”

For Bible en français courant this verse and the end of the previous one read as follows: “21 … They turn toward heaven, 22 then they look at the earth, and they see nothing but distress, darkness, gloomy oppression, a night without the slightest bit of light.” Some other suggestions for translators are:

• 21 … They will look up to heaven 22 and they will look to the earth. No matter where they turn for help, all they will see [or, experience] is dark distress and more gloomy suffering. The thick [or, deep] darkness of pain will overtake them.

• 21 … No matter where they look, to heaven 22 or to earth, they will know nothing but further deep distress and the pain of suffering. It will be like impenetrable darkness all around them.

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 .