The description of the wicked rulers from the previous verse continues. The verbs here are singular in Hebrew since their subject is the “scepter” in verse 5 that symbolizes the power of these rulers. If this personification is not natural in the receptor language, translators may use plural pronouns to refer to the wicked rulers of the previous verse (so Good News Translation).

That smote the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows: This describes a nation whose cruelty was unending. The Babylonians struck the peoples, a term used in verse 2 to refer to other nations. They attacked them in wrath, that is, “angrily.” With unceasing blows is literally “strikes not turning aside.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “With stroke unceasing.” The Babylonians were constantly and furiously attacking others.

That ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution describes Babylonia’s oppressive rule of other nations. The Hebrew verb rendered ruled is the same one used in verse 2. It usually appears in contexts where one nation holds power over others. Thus it carries the sense of domination. In anger is parallel to in wrath. It indicates how harshly the Babylonians treated those they had subjugated. Translators could say “with force,” “with violence,” or “cruelly.” With unrelenting persecution is literally “pursuit not refraining [or, unchecked].” Unrelenting describes something that never stops. New Jerusalem Bible says “pursuing without respite,” New International Version “with relentless aggression,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “In relentless pursuit.” Good News Translation uses a verb here, saying “never stopped persecuting.”

New Jerusalem Bible provides this helpful model for the verse: “furiously lashing peoples with continual blows, angrily hammering nations, pursuing without respite.” Other translation examples are:

• These evildoers furiously attacked nations time and time again. They cruelly dominated people, pursuing them unceasingly.

• In their fury these evildoers [or, they] constantly attacked nations. They fiercely dominated people and oppressed them without end.

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 .