Yahweh’s speech continues here. In Hebrew it is no longer in poetic format but in prose. This may suggest that there is some distinction between this verse and the previous ones. The precise nature of the link between them is uncertain. In Good News Translation there is a natural connection between verses 20 and 21, because it has the LORD speaking directly in both verses, using only first person pronouns for him. This is a valid model. It is also possible that verse 21 stands separately as a conclusion to the first part of Third Isaiah (see the introductory comments on chapters 56–66).

And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD: And as for me is literally “And I.” This verse begins with an emphatic first person pronoun in Hebrew. It is a way of stressing that what follows are the LORD’s own words. Like Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible keeps this emphasis by saying “For my part.” Many other versions ignore it (so Good News Translation). This is my covenant with them points forward to the description of God’s covenant with his people in the remainder of the verse. For covenant see the comments on 24.5. The pronoun them refers to God’s people who abandon their sinful ways. The quote frame says the LORD is a reminder that this is a divine promise. The Hebrew expression for this quote frame differs a little from the one used in the previous verse, but both stress that Yahweh is speaking. Good News Translation omits this one for naturalness in English.

My spirit which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth refers to two important, central elements in God’s covenant promise. The first element is that his spirit (ruach in Hebrew; see verse 19) is with his people. My spirit is the vital and energetic presence of God within the community. Good News Translation says “my power,” which is valid. The second element is that God has given his words to his people. My words which I have put in your mouth probably refers to the gift of prophecy, the announcing of God’s word to others (see Jer 1.9). If this is the sense, then it is similar to the claim in Joel 2.28-29 that the gift of prophecy was given to the community, not just to an individual. However, for Good News Translation this is not the gift of prophecy but that of God’s teachings. That may well be another meaning here, but we prefer the sense of prophecy.

My words … shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or out of the mouth of your children’s children … from this time forth and for evermore indicates that God’s words will always be available to the faithful community through its prophets. It is an eternal promise (see 55.3). For from this time forth and for evermore, see the comments on 9.7. Bible en français courant seems to express the sense of prophecy in the last half of this verse by saying “I entrust my message to you from now onward and for always. I will never withdraw this mission/task, not from you, nor from your children, nor from your children’s children. It is I who declare it.”

Says the LORD repeats for emphasis that this is a divine promise.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The LORD says, “This then is my own covenant with you: I have given you my spirit, and my words I have put into your mouth. Those words will not depart from you, nor from your children, nor from your children’s children. This is my promise, and it is from now and for eternity.”

• Yahweh says, “This is my covenant with you: I give you my spirit and my word. That word will not be absent from you, nor from your children or their children. It is a promise now and forevermore,” says Yahweh.

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 .