For thus the Lord said to me: This clause also begins verse 6; see the comments there. Here the connector For may introduce why Dedan and Tema are asked to give assistance to the fugitives, but this is not clear. Contemporary English Version and New International Version omit the connector. All versions begin a new paragraph.

Within a year, according to the years of a hireling: For according to the years of a hireling, see the comments on 16.14. Revised English Bible translates “Within a year, as a hired labourer counts off years exactly.” Good News Translation omits the reference to the hireling and simply says “In exactly one year.” This whole expression refers to sometime during the year following this prophecy.

All the glory of Kedar will come to an end: For glory see the comments on 8.7. All the glory of Kedar refers to everything in which Kedar took pride, especially the wealth it accumulated from its important trading operations (see Song 1.5; Jer 49.28-29). This will come to an end; that is, it will be gone. Kedar’s success will end because it is God’s decision.

The following models are offered as suggestions for this verse:

• For my Master has said to me: “Within just one year, as a hired person counts the time, all Kedar’s pride will be at an end.

• My Lord told me that within one year, counting the time as a hired person does, everything Kedar prided itself on would be gone.

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 .