This verse continues the description of Cyrus’ victories.

He pursues them and passes on safely: The pronoun He refers to Cyrus, not the LORD. The pronoun them refers to the nations and their kings mentioned in the previous verse. He pursues them means he and his troops pursue them as they flee. Revised English Bible says “he puts them to flight.” Passes on safely states that Cyrus and his army suffered no casualties; they were kept safe from harm. This is perhaps an exaggeration, but the sense is that Cyrus won easy victories in each battle. Historical records confirm this. Cyrus also obtained a large part of his empire through his diplomatic skills, playing on the dissatisfaction of nations with their Babylonian masters. The Hebrew verb rendered passes on usually has the sense of “to go over/through,” but here it can simply mean “to go.” The adverb safely renders the Hebrew noun shalom, which is usually translated “peace.” For passes on safely, New International Version has “moves on unscathed” (similarly Revised English Bible), and Contemporary English Version says “he doesn’t even get hurt.” Another possible rendering is “he was never in any danger.”

By paths his feet have not trod: The Hebrew text of Masoretic Text here is literally “a path by his feet he does not come,” which is ambiguous. It could be a figurative expression for the speed at which Cyrus traveled, saying his feet never touched the ground (so Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, de~Waard). Revised Standard Version emends the Hebrew text for its rendering, which says that Cyrus had not traveled that way before (also New International Version). Revised English Bible emends the text differently to read “swifter than any traveler on foot.” Translators may choose the reading in Good News Translation (see the first two examples below) or the one in Revised Standard Version (see the third example below). They should mention the alternative in a footnote.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• He pursues them, he goes [everywhere] in safety,
he makes his way at great speed.

• He chases after their armies, never in any danger,
his feet seem never to touch the ground.

• He pursues them, always returning safely,
along roads he has never traveled before.

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 .