This verse emphasizes the perpetual destruction of the land of Edom. Four separate phrases each carry this theme: Night and day, for ever, From generation to generation, and for ever and ever.

Night and day it shall not be quenched: Good News Translation reverses the order of Night and day for idiomatic English. Translators should ensure that set phrases reflect the customary patterns of their own language rather than follow the Hebrew order. While Night and day may be an acceptable Hebrew order (since for the Old Testament community the new day began at sunset), in many other languages it may sound unnatural. The pronoun it refers to the “burning pitch” in the previous verse. Shall not be quenched means “will not be extinguished.” This whole line may be rendered “Nobody will ever be able extinguish its fire.”

Its smoke shall go up for ever: This line is parallel to the previous one. It emphasizes that the tar will burn constantly. Smoke will always rise from it. The Hebrew word rendered for ever generally means “for a very long time,” rather than “for eternity.”

From generation to generation it shall lie waste: The pronoun it refers to the land, not the burning tar. Some translations may need to clarify this, as Good News Translation has done. The phrase From generation to generation will occur again in verse 17. Here it is parallel with for ever in the previous line, and especially with for ever and ever in the next line. The Hebrew word for generation refers to a period of time, perhaps twenty-five years in ancient times, but certainly no more than forty years. So the land will lie waste, useless, or in ruins, for long periods of time, succeeding one another.

None shall pass through it for ever and ever describes further what will happen to the land. No one will live there, no one will even travel through it. This situation will last for ever and ever.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Day and night it will burn,
smoke from it will rise up for ever.
The land will lie in ruins from generation to generation,
nobody will travel through it for ever and ever.

• It will not be extinguished day or night,
its smoke will ascend for ever.
From generation to generation the land will remain useless,
for ever and ever no person will pass through it.

• Day and night the fire will burn unquenched,
smoke from it will rise unceasingly.
From one generation to the next the land will lie useless,
never will anyone pass through it again.

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 .