1.

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Hearken. Note the call to hear. See Structure, above.
are = were.
hole of the pit = the hollow of the quarry.

2.

Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

Look = Look well: as in Isaiah 51:1 . Figure of speech Hermeneia , by which Isaiah 51:2 interprets Isaiah 51:1 .
Abraham . . . Sarah. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 12 , &c.; Genesis 24:36 ).
alone. Compare Ezekiel 33:24 .Malachi 2:15 .

3.

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

waste places. Compare Isaiah 40:1 ; Isaiah 49:13 .
like Eden. Reference to Pentateuch, (Genesis 2 and Genesis 3 ). App-92 . Elsewhere, only here; Joel 2:3 ; and six times in Ezekiel.
like the garden of the LORD. This is a quotation from Genesis 13:10 . App-92 .
melody = music or Psalmody.

4.

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

law: i.e. the law of Moses, which was Jehovah's revealed instruction. Compare Ma Isaiah 1:4 , Isaiah 1:4 ,
make . . . to rest = establish.
the people = peoples.

5.

My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

isles = maritime countries. See note on Isaiah 11:11 .
wait. Compare Isaiah 42:4 ; Isaiah 60:9 .
trust = hope. Hebrew. yahal. App-69 . Not the same word as in Isaiah 50:10 .

6.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

shall = will have.
in like manner = so. There is no ancient authority for "as a gnat", as some render it.

7.

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

know = take note of.
men = mortal men.

8.

For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

9.

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

Awake. Same word as in Isaiah 52:1 . Not the same as in Isaiah 51:17 . Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis (for emphasis).
arm . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
Bahab = Egypt. Compare Psalms 87:4 ; Psalms 89:10 .
dragon = crocodile.

10.

Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?

dried the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:29 ). ransomed = redeemed (by price, or blood). Hebrew. ga'al. Compare Exodus 6:6 .

11.

Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

redeemed = redeemed (by power). Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 13:13 .
come with singing. Compare Isaiah 35:10 .
mourning = sighing. See notes on Isaiah 21:2 .

12.

I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

13.

And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?

stretched forth the heavens. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 ).
as if he were. A special reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), with some codices, two early printed editions, and Syriac, read "who was": referring doubtless to the Antichrist's effort in "the great tribulation".

14.

The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

15.

But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.

divided the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:21 ).
The LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

16.

And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

put My words in thy mouth. See note on Isaiah 50:4 ("that I should know"). Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 18:18 ). App-92 .
that: i.e. in order that.

17.

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

Awake = Rouse thee. Not the same form as in Isaiah 51:9 with Isaiah 52:1 .

18.

There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.

19.

These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

20.

Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.

Thy sons have fainted. Note the Alternation in this verse. Thus: "fainted at the head", &c, and "they lie as a wild bull", &c.

21.

Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

22.

Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

thy LORD the LORD = thy Adonim Jehovah. See App-4 .
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
no more drink it again. All this refers therefore to the final restoration of Israel.

23.

But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

thy soul = thee. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .