All these things my hand has made means Yahweh created the heavens and the earth. All these things refers back to “Heaven” and “the earth” in the previous verse. My hand refers to God himself (so Good News Translation; see the comments on 45.12).

And so all these things are mine means God can claim ownership of the whole universe since he created it. However, Revised Standard Version‘s rendering of this line follows the Septuagint. Masoretic Text says simply “and all these things exist” (Bible en français courant 1997) or “… came into being” (so New International Version; RSV footnote). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports Masoretic Text as the more original text, but many versions follow the Septuagint.

Says the LORD normally closes a divine speech (see, for example, 54.17), but here it indicates that the LORD’s speech will move in a different direction. What follows is a statement about the kind of person God will regard favorably.

But this is the man to whom I will look means God will look with favor upon a certain kind of individual, one who is described in the following lines. This line is literally “and to this one [masculine] I will look.” But renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it introduces a contrast between the vastness of the universe God has created and his interest in the people he favors. Translators should use a generic expression for human beings to render the man, such as “the person” or “the one”; for example, Revised English Bible renders the whole line as “The one for whom I have regard is,” and New International Version says “This is the one I esteem.” A plural expression may also be used by saying “These are the people with whom I will be pleased” (similarly Good News Translation).

He that is humble and contrite in spirit describes those whom God will favor. Like the man, the masculine pronoun he refers to any such people. Is humble and contrite in spirit does not just mean they are humble and repentant, but they also suffer for their faith (compare 57.15; Psa 34.18). The Hebrew word for humble is usually rendered “poor” or “afflicted” (see the comments on 3.14 and 54.11). Revised English Bible renders this line as “is oppressed and afflicted,” and Bible en français courant has “this one is the poor one, the unfortunate one.” The phrase in spirit speaks of an inner response of the heart and mind, so it may be rendered “truly” by expressing the whole line as “is the one who is truly humbled and oppressed.”

And trembles at my word: The Hebrew verb rendered trembles usually refers to a panic attack caused by something very fearful. However, here it indicates the way people respond when facing God’s awesome judgment. It especially describes the faithful, as they fear what might happen to them if they engage in any form of idolatry. In this context my word implies God’s word of judgment, rather than a more general divine saying. Translators should not imply the Scriptures here, or even the Old Testament. Bible en français courant translates this line as “the one who listens to my word with fear and trembling.” Good News Translation simply says “who fear me and obey me,” which lacks the intensity of feelings here.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• I have created all of these things,
thus they exist,” says the LORD.
“But the one on whom I will look with favor
is the one who is truly humble and afflicted,
who trembles before my word of judgment.

• All these things are what I have made,
that is why they exist,” says Yahweh.
“The person I will regard with favor
is one who is humble and brokenhearted,
who is deeply afraid of my threat of judgment.

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 .