God brings the coastal nations to court. Good News Translation begins with the quote frame “God says” to indicate he is speaking here (see the introductory comments on this subsection [41.1-7]). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar with “The LORD says.” Other languages may find these models helpful (see the examples below).

Listen to me in silence, O coastlands: Listen to me in silence is literally “Be silent to me.” New International Version says “Be silent before me.” The Hebrew verb here generally means to be dumb or speechless (see 36.21). Listen is implied in this context. The Hebrew text gives no indication concerning whether the coastal nations were busy speaking before they were urged to be silent, or whether they were quiet already and are told to remain that way. In languages where this is an important distinction, translators are free to choose either view. It is obvious that the general sense is that the nations are to listen while Yahweh asks several questions; later they may speak. Good News Translation expresses the verb well with “Be silent and listen.”

The pronoun me refers to God. He is addressing the coastlands. For this term see the comments on 40.15, where it is rendered “isles.” Here it could refer to all the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, especially Philistia and Phoenicia. Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible say “coasts and islands,” while New International Version has only “islands.” This term could also have a more general meaning here, pointing to all the distant nations, so Good News Translation says “distant lands,” and Bible en français courant has “distant populations.” In this context coastlands not only refers to the people of these nations but also to their gods (see verse 7).

Let the peoples renew their strength: The Hebrew word translated peoples occurred earlier in 17.12-13 (where it is rendered “nations”) and 34.1. It is a general term for the people of a nation. Here the peoples are the people of the coastlands, so God moves from second person to third person to address these people. Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and Bible en français courant keep second person for these people throughout this verse, which may be a helpful model for other languages (see also the third example below). The phrase renew their strength occurred earlier in 40.31 (see the comments there). There the prophet says those who trust in God will gain new strength. Here God may be calling on the distant nations to depend on him for their strength, or he may be simply telling them to be courageous. Some commentators believe this line is incorrectly placed here (so NJPSV footnote|prj:NJPS.Isa 41.1). However, there is little question that this is the original text since it has the support of Dead Sea Scrolls. Good News Translation seems to omit this line, but it should be kept. Bible en français courant translates “You, peoples, be courageous,” and Contemporary English Version says “Have courage.”

Let them approach, then let them speak: The coastal nations can only speak after they have heard what Yahweh has to say. The verb approach fits the setting of a court in which the witnesses come forward and present themselves before the judge. Bible en français courant uses a verb that often has the sense of “appear in court.” For the whole line Good News Translation says “Get ready to present your case in court; you will have your chance to speak.”

Let us together draw near for judgment: Yahweh invites witnesses from the coastal nations to gather with him to make the final judgment. Both Good News Translation and Bible en français courant translate the line as if this is about a regular court case. Good News Translation says “Let us come together to decide who is right,” and Bible en français courant has “Yes, let us come near, you and me, to begin the court proceedings.” However, the Hebrew word for judgment can also be understood as a final decision, rather than determining who is right and who is wrong in a legal case. This meaning seems to fit the context better. God and these nations will decide who has caused the powerful military figure to arise from the east. The answer is given in verse 4: it is Yahweh.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The LORD says,
“You coastlands, listen to me in silence.
Let the peoples have courage and come near to me,
then they can speak.
Together let us make our decision.

• God says,
“Listen in silence to me, you nations afar.
Let the peoples depend on me for strength,
let them come to me, then let them speak.
Let us together reach our decision.

• “Be quiet before me, you distant countries,” says the LORD;
“be courageous, you peoples.
Come here before me and then you can speak;
you and I will come to a decision.

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 .