Compare Isa 40.3-4; 42.16.

Translators may omit the connector For at the beginning of this verse. There is no logical connection here with the previous verse.

God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up: The geographical references here are a bit obscure. There are three geographical features mentioned: every high mountain, the everlasting hills, and the valleys. There are two actions: made low and filled up. Obviously the mountains are to be leveled and the valleys are to be filled. But the middle term, everlasting hills, is a problem. Only New American Bible associates it with filling up, and translates “… that the age-old depths … be filled.” All others associate the term with the lowering of the mountains, and this is surely correct. The Greek noun rendered hills actually refers to sand dunes, and there is no reason for it to be translated as anything else. Anyone who has tried walking up tall sand dunes will realize that it is rough going, much harder than walking up solid ground at the same grade and elevation. Sand dunes are also true to the actual geography involved—the area between Babylonia and Judea. The Greek word rendered everlasting can be translated “endless,” which goes well here by saying “the endless sand dunes” (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Alternative translation models for the first part of this verse are “God has commanded that every high mountain and the endless sand dunes be made low, and every valley be filled up” and “God has decided to lower every high mountain and the endless sand dunes, and fill up every valley.”

So that Israel may walk safely: Although the Greek verb used here does generally refer to walking, it does not have to, and translating it as “walk” sets up a conflict with verse 6 that is unnecessary. Good News Translation avoids this with “so that the people of Israel may come safely home” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Likewise, New American Bible has “that Israel may advance secure” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

In the glory of God here focuses on light as an aspect of God’s glory (see the comments on verse 1). The phrase could be expressed as “in the shining glory of God” to bring that across; or more drastically, it could be reworded as “led by God’s glorious light” (see verse 9).

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.