Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 63:5:
Kupsabiny: “I looked around and no one to help me appeared I opened the eyes wide and no one helped me. But I defeated (them) in my power alone and my anger gave me strength until I won.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “I looked, but [I] did not see anyone who would help. I did not see anyone who would help, [and] I was amazed, So with my own strong arm [I] did my salvation, and my anger sustained me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “I was-appalled when I saw that there was not even one who helped- me -out. Therefore I was the only one who saved my people by-means of my power. My anger was the one that pushed me to punish my enemies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
Verses 5-6 explain further the content of verses 3-4. Verse 5 is similar in content and structure to 59.16.
I looked, but there was no one to help: God looked for someone to help him bring justice to Edom, but he found no one. This statement supports the claim made in verse 3 that God acted alone. In Hebrew there are only three words in this line: a first person imperfect verb followed by a particle meaning “there is not” and a participle meaning “one who helps.” This form is repeated in the following parallel line. In some languages the verb help may require an object, and even a statement about the kind of help in view; for example, the whole line may be rendered “I looked for someone to help me bring justice.” From a theological point of view it may seem strange that God needed to find someone to help him bring justice. However, in this context he is merely saying he acted alone in dealing with Edom.
I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold: This line could mean God was shocked by what Edom had done, but there was no one to support him (so Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible), or it could mean he was amazed that there was no one to support his actions against Edom (so New International Version, New American Bible). The Hebrew verb translated appalled refers to being surprised or shocked by some event (see the comments on 59.16, where it is rendered “wondered”). New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh render it “stared” to make it parallel with the verb looked, but we do not recommend this. The Hebrew verb for uphold has the sense of being able to lean on something or to rely on something (see 59.16). If languages require an object for this verb, they may add “me” (so New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant; see also the examples below).
So my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath upheld me: These two parallel lines give the result of there being no one to support the LORD. He achieved victory by his own power and anger. As in 59.16, arm is a metaphor for power. Revised English Bible renders it “might.” In the Hebrew text there is a wordplay here since the noun for arm is very similar in sound to the verb for help. Brought me victory is literally “caused me to be victorious” (see 59.16). My wrath upheld me means God’s anger toward the evil actions of Edom gave him the strength and support to carry his action through to victory. Upheld renders the same Hebrew verb as the one for uphold in the second line. For the last two lines of this verse New Jerusalem Bible translates “Then my own arm came to my rescue and my own fury supported me.”
Good News Translation combines the first two lines of this verse, and reverses the last two. Other translation examples are:
• When I looked for help, there was no one;
I was amazed that there was no one to support me.
So in my own strength I was victorious,
and my fury sustained me.
• I looked for help, but nobody was there to help me;
I was amazed that nobody gave me support.
So I won the victory in my own strength,
my rage sustaining me.
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 .
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