I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off: Like Revised Standard Version, many versions use the present tense for I bring near my deliverance. However, the Hebrew verb rendered bring near is in the perfect form, so it affirms the certainty of this future event by treating it as if it has happened already. Yahweh’s deliverance of his people is both sure and near. It is not far off emphasizes that he will rescue them soon.

My salvation will not tarry repeats that Yahweh will rescue his people soon. He will not tarry or delay doing it. My salvation refers to God’s salvation/rescue of his people, not his own salvation. Good News Translation and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh render salvation as “triumph,” but we prefer the sense of “rescue” here. For languages that have difficulty with the abstract idea of salvation as the subject, this line may be rendered “I will rescue you without delay.”

I will put salvation in Zion is literally “and I will give in Zion salvation.” The precise meaning of this line is uncertain. Some believe it means the LORD will save the city of Jerusalem itself, either by rescuing those who are in the city or by rebuilding it. Good News Translation follows this sense with “I will save Jerusalem,” and so does New International Version with “I will grant salvation to Zion.” Others believe it means God will save the world through Jerusalem. Translators may follow either sense here. Revised English Bible says “In Zion I shall grant deliverance,” which allows for both meanings. For Zion as another name for Jerusalem, see the comments on 1.8.

For Israel my glory: The meaning of this line is also uncertain. It may mean that Yahweh saves Jerusalem for the benefit of Israel, the people who reflect his glory (so Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible; see also the first example below), or it may mean that he will give Israel a glory that reflects his own; for example, New International Version has “[I will grant] my splendor to Israel” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible; see also the second example below). Translators may choose either sense here. Glory translates a Hebrew word that can also mean “splendor” or “beauty” (see the comments on 13.19, where it is translated “splendor”). For Good News Translation and Bible en français courant my glory refers to the honor Yahweh will give to Israel, but it more likely points to his own glory.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• I have brought my deliverance near,
it is not distant;
I will rescue you without delay.
I will rescue Zion
for the benefit of Israel, my beauty.”

• My deliverance is now near,
it is not far off;
I will hasten to save you.
In Zion I will show my salvation,
in Israel my glory.”

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 .