In this verse the prophet reminds his audience that even young people can become weary, in contrast to God’s unfailing energy and power.

Even youths shall faint and be weary: Even renders the common Hebrew conjunction (literally “And”). It helps to underline the contrast between the weakness of young people and the strength of those who trust in the LORD (verse 31). Translators may leave it implied (so New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The Hebrew word rendered youths refers to a wide range of young people, from their early years through to marriage. Even though they are young and strong, they know what it is to feel tired. For the key verbs faint and be weary, see verse 28. Good News Translation combines them into “grow weak.”

And young men shall fall exhausted is parallel to the previous line. The Hebrew noun rendered young men is literally “chosen ones.” This term usually refers to males in the prime of life (see the comments on 9.17). Here it includes all young people, not just males, so Good News Translation says “young people.” Fall exhausted renders an emphatic verbal expression in Hebrew that repeats the verb for “stumble.” Young people can stumble completely due to exhaustion.

Revised Standard Version uses the future tense for the three verbs in this verse. All these verbs are in the imperfect form in Hebrew. Here they do not refer to something that will actually happen, but to something that usually happens. It is usual for even young people to become very tired. In English it is better to make this point using the present tense with or without the use of “may” or “can” as auxiliary verbs (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible).

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Those who are young [become] faint and grow weary,
young people fall down with exhaustion.

• Even youths may faint and get tired,
young people may fall exhausted.

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 .