From the ends of the earth translates an unusual phrase in Hebrew, which is literally “from the wing of the earth.” The word for “wing” normally refers to the wings of a bird, but here it is used in an extended sense for the edge of the earth. The entire phrase is an idiomatic expression for the whole earth. A similar expression is used in 11.12, which is “from the four corners [wings] of the earth” (see the comments there). Good News Translation says “From the most distant parts of the world.” Alternative models are “From all over the earth,” “From every part of the earth,” and even “From every direction on earth.” This last model fits well with the previous references to the west and the east.

We hear songs of praise: The pronoun we and the other first person pronouns in this verse probably refer to the prophet speaking on behalf of his people in Judah. Songs of praise is literally “songs,” but it is clear in the context that these are songs praising Yahweh. For this clause New International Version simply has “we hear singing.” Another possible model is “we hear people singing songs.”

Of glory to the Righteous One: The Hebrew word rendered glory is not the same word in the previous verse. It often means “beauty” (Revised English Bible; see 4.2, where the same word is rendered “beautiful”) or “Splendor” (New American Bible). Here it most likely has the sense of “honor” given to Yahweh. The Righteous One refers to Yahweh. Some translators may wish to clarify this by saying “Yahweh the Righteous One.” Good News Translation says “Israel, the righteous nation” (similarly Revised English Bible), but we do not recommend this.

But I say, “I pine away, I pine away. Woe is me!: The connector But introduces a contrast here with the first half of the verse. People are singing praise to Yahweh, but the prophet is distracted by other thoughts. He is losing strength and feeling hopeless because of treachery in the world. The verb say is better rendered “cry out” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) in this context. The Hebrew verb rendered pine away means to grow thin and weak. The prophet repeats I pine away for emphasis. He also cries Woe is me to highlight his misery even more. People often said this when they faced a situation that caused anguish or fear; see the comments on 6.5, where the same expression occurs. It may be rendered “What will I do?” or “I am undone!”

For the treacherous deal treacherously, the treacherous deal very treacherously: Revised Standard Version begins with the connector For, but it is not in the Hebrew text. The prophet makes another exclamation here, so no connector is needed. The repetition in these two lines is especially striking because all five Hebrew words in them come from the same root. The root carries the sense of treachery; see the comments on 21.2, where it is rendered “plunderer” and “plunders.” Who are these treacherous people? In the context they are the people in the world. An alternative model here is “Disloyal people are disloyal, disloyal people are very disloyal!”

The words of the prophet here in Hebrew are razi li razi li ʾoy li bogedim bagadu ubeged bogedim bagadu. This sound repetition helps to highlight and emphasize the prophet’s despair.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• All over the earth we hear people sing praises
to the honor of [Yahweh] the Righteous One.
But I cry, “I waste away, I waste away! I am undone!
Treacherous people act treacherously,
treacherous people act very treacherously!”

• From the ends of the earth we hear songs
in praise of the Righteous One.
But I cry out, “I grow weak, I grow weak! Alas for me!
Disloyal ones are disloyal,
disloyal ones are totally disloyal!”

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 .