In many translations this verse begins a new section (see the introductory comments on verses 15-18), but it is equally possible to see it as concluding the present section (so Good News Translation). According toverses 8-17, the people of Judah will face terrible defeat if they insist on relying on Egypt, but here Yahweh offers mercy to them if they trust in him. Verses 19-26 build on the theme of his mercy.
Since this verse contrasts with the previous verses, the connector Therefore is better rendered “Yet” (New International Version, Revised English Bible; similarly Good News Translation), “But” (New Jerusalem Bible), “Nevertheless” (Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), or “However.”
The LORD waits to be gracious to you: The Hebrew verb translated waits pictures Yahweh as hoping and longing for his people to change their course of action so that he can do something for them. The Hebrew verb form here marks Yahweh’s longing as constant and unceasing. New International Version renders waits as “longs,” and Bible en français courant has “always hopes.” The Hebrew verb rendered be gracious means that Yahweh will “be kind” (so Contemporary English Version) to his people.
Therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you is parallel to the previous line. The connector therefore repeats the connector at the beginning of this verse (see the comments above). Here it is better rendered “and” or omitted. The Hebrew word rendered exalts himself means “to be ready/willing” in this context since it is parallel with waits. Good News Translation has “is ready,” and New International Version says “rises” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant). Revised English Bible has “yearns,” which is also possible, but this rendering comes from an Arabic root that is related to the Hebrew root here. The Hebrew verb rendered show mercy means that Yahweh will “be filled with compassion” for his people. For be gracious and show mercy, see the comments on 27.11, where these two verbs are rendered “show … favor” and “have compassion” respectively.
For the LORD is a God of justice explains why Yahweh desires to show pity and kindness to his people. A God of justice means that he always acts justly. The Hebrew word translated justice often refers to Yahweh’s severe judgment resulting in punishment, but here it has a positive sense (see the comments on 1.17). New Jerusalem Bible renders it “fair judgement.” Good News Translation renders this line well with “because he always does what is right.” Another possibility is “because Yahweh is a God who sets everything right” or “… who always judges fairly.”
Blessed are all those who wait for him: This is an affirmation concerning those who trust in the LORD. The Hebrew word rendered blessed are is found in many wisdom contexts, but basically it means that the people are blessed and fortunate (compare Psa 84.4-5; 106.3). Good News Translation renders it “Happy are,” but this is not the best expression to use in English because it can mean something light and joyous, whereas blessed are carries a deeper sense of contentment with material blessing (see Deut 7.12-16). If translators need to specify the agent of this blessing, Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model with “he [the LORD] blesses.” The Hebrew verb translated wait is the same one rendered waits in the first line, but here it has a slightly different meaning. There it spoke of Yahweh longing to act with kindness and compassion toward Judah; here it carries more the sense of deep trust in Yahweh (see 8.17, where it has the same sense). Wait may be rendered “hope” (New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant) or “trust” (Contemporary English Version). For this whole line Bible en français courant has “Happy are all those who hope in him!” so it uses the same verb as in the first line.
Most translations treat this final line as an independent statement (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and the first example below). However, it is also possible to link it with the previous line as the result of Yahweh’s justice for those who trust him (see the second and third examples below; note that the third example reverses the last two lines, which may be more natural in some languages).
Translation examples for this verse are:
• Yet Yahweh longs to show you kindness,
he rises up [or, longs] to be compassionate to you.
It is because Yahweh is a God who sets everything right.
Blessed are all those who trust in him.
• Nevertheless Yahweh desires to be kind to you,
and he longs to have compassion on you.
Since Yahweh is a God who always does what is right,
blessed are all those who trust in him.
• But Yahweh desires to be kind to you,
he is ready to show mercy to you.
How fortunate are all those who trust in him,
because Yahweh is a God who sets everything right.
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 .