Thus says the LORD: The section begins with this traditional formula introducing divine speech. For this quote frame see the comments on 7.7.

For the divine title your Redeemer, see the comments on 41.14; for the Holy One of Israel, see 1.4.

For I am the LORD your God, see the comments on 43.3. Yahweh reaffirms his relationship with his people here. The two relative clauses that follow describe this relationship. In both clauses Yahweh stresses what he does for his people.

Who teaches you to profit: Yahweh instructs Israel on how to live in a way that is for its own good. He gives his instructions so that those who obey him might profit, namely, that they might receive his blessings. When translating profit it is important to avoid giving the idea of mere financial or material profit. Good News Translation expresses this line clearly with “the one who wants to teach you for your own good” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible). New International Version has “who teaches you what is best for you,” and Revised English Bible says “I teach you for your own wellbeing.” Another possible model is “I teach you how to live your lives [or, conduct yourselves] with good things [or, blessings/benefits].”

Who leads you in the way you should go should not be taken literally. The noun way and the verb go are both used figuratively, referring to “manner of life” and “live/behave” respectively (see the comments on 2.3). This whole line means God shows the Israelites the manner in which they should live.

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch reverses the last two lines, and does not use the metaphor of the way. For the last three lines it has “I, the LORD, your God, tell you what you must do and how you must live. My instructions are what is best for you.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• This is what Yahweh, your Redeemer, Israel’s Holy One, says:
“I am Yahweh your God,
I teach you what is valuable/important for you to know,
I lead you in the way you should walk.

An example without direct speech is:

• Yahweh, your Redeemer and Holy One declares
that he is your God.
He teaches what will benefit you,
he shows you the way you should live.

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 .