This verse has a series of very brief negative statements. They describe the advancing enemy. Not only is the enemy coming quickly, but also it is highly efficient. Nothing will stop its rapid progress. It is important that these negatives be highlighted in the translation in order to achieve the same impact on the reader or hearer as the original Hebrew had.

None is weary: The perspective now changes from the enemy army to the individual soldiers in it. Plural forms may be used here if this is more natural in the receptor language (so Good News Translation). The first clause refers to them not being tired. They have come a great distance but they are fresh and ready for attack.

None stumbles describes their sure-footed progress.

None slumbers or sleeps is literally “he does not fall asleep and he does not sleep.” Again, this is a picture of an army ready and alert. This line may express irony, because in Psa 121.4 “will neither slumber nor sleep” is a proverbial description of the LORD who protects Israel. Isaiah uses exactly the same Hebrew words and forms here to describe the enemy that the LORD will bring against his people. If translators do not have equivalents for both slumbers and sleeps, they may use one verb.

Not a waistcloth is loose: The waistcloth was a leather belt that was worn by soldiers around the waist. Waistcloth (New Revised Standard Version “loincloth”) suggests it was made of soft material, but “[leather] belt” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant) is probably better. If such an article of clothing is loose, then the person wearing it cannot move freely. According to this line and the next one, all the soldiers are suitably dressed, even in the smallest details, so nothing will hold them back from the battle.

Not a sandal-thong broken: The sandal consists of a piece of leather worn under the sole of the foot, to which long thongs or laces are attached that wind tightly up the leg to hold the sandal. If a thong is broken, then the sandal will fall off or trip the wearer. Some interpret the verb here as referring to the untying of sandals when soldiers take a rest (see Bible en français courant “no lace untied”). There is nothing wrong even with the sandals of the enemy soldiers, so they are well equipped and ready for their forward march. If translators come from a culture where there is no tradition of shoes or sandals being tied, it may be necessary to say “none of them have broken sandals/shoes.”

These six examples of what will not happen combine to indicate that there is absolutely no way that the enemy army will be prevented from attacking Judah. Every person is ready for action and every item of clothing is such that it will not hinder his progress. It is a frightening picture for those who can do nothing more than wait for the enemy’s arrival.

We suggest the following translation examples for this verse:

• Not one of them is weary, not one of them will stumble,
none will slumber or fall asleep,
not one belt is untied,
not one sandal thong is broken.

• None of the soldiers are tired nor likely to stumble,
none will fall asleep or slumber,
none of them have a loose belt,
none of them have broken shoe ties [laces].

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 .