Take courage, my people: This section opens with a strong, positive imperative, which is similar to the vigorous “Comfort, comfort my people” at Isa 40.1. Take courage may be expressed as “Be brave” (Contemporary English Version), “Have brave hearts,” or even “Keep your hearts strong.”

O memorial of Israel: The exiles are being told that the future of Israel belongs with them; they have the responsibility to carry on the ancient traditions—“you are the ones who keep Israel’s name alive,” as Good News Translation puts it. Another way to render it is “You are the ones who will help people to remember Israel.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.