13 The words “I am” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the participle at the beginning of v. 7 stands in apposition to “the Lord” in v. 6.
14 On the surface v. 7a appears to describe God’s sovereign control over the cycle of day and night, but the following statement suggests that “light” and “darkness” symbolize “deliverance” and “judgment.”
15 This verses affirms that God is ultimately sovereign over his world, including mankind and nations. In accordance with his sovereign will, he can cause wars to cease and peace to predominate (as he was about to do for his exiled people through Cyrus), or he can bring disaster and judgment on nations (as he was about to do to Babylon through Cyrus).
16 Heb “let the clouds drip with”; “let the skies pour down.”
17 Heb “open up” (so ); , “open wide.”
18 The plural verb should be emended to a singular form. The vav (ו) ending is probably virtually dittographic (note the yod at the beginning of the following word).
19 The Hiphil verb form (תַצְמִיחַ, tatsmiakh) should probably be emended to a Qal (תִצְמַח, titsmakh). The יח sequence at the end of the form is probably due to dittography (note the following יַחַד, yakhad).
20 The masculine singular pronominal suffix probably refers back to יָשַׁע (yasha’, “salvation”).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I form light and create darkness;

I make well-being and create calamity;

I am the Lord, who does all these things.

“Shower, O heavens, from above,

and let the clouds rain down righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;

let the earth cause them both to sprout;

I the Lord have created it.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I form the light and create darkness,

I bring prosperity and create disaster;

I, the Lord, do all these things.

“You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;

let the clouds shower it down.

Let the earth open wide,

let salvation spring up,

let righteousness flourish with it;

I, the Lord, have created it.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I form light and create darkness,

I make success and create disaster;

I am the Lord, who does all these things.

“Heavens, sprinkle from above,

and let the skies shower righteousness.

Let the earth open up

so that salvation will sprout

and righteousness will spring up with it.

I, the Lord, have created it.

NLTNew Living Translation

I create the light and make the darkness.

I send good times and bad times.

I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.

“Open up, O heavens,

and pour out your righteousness.

Let the earth open wide

so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.

I, the Lord, created them.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I form light and I create darkness;

I make peace and I create evil;

I am Yahweh; I do all these things.

Trickle, O heavens, from above,

and let clouds trickle with righteousness;

let the earth open so that salvation may be fruitful,

and let it cause righteousness to sprout along with it.

I myself, Yahweh, have created it.

KJV 1900King James Version

I form the light, and create darkness:

I make peace, and create evil:

I the Lord do all these things.

Drop down, ye heavens, from above,

And let the skies pour down righteousness:

Let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation,

And let righteousness spring up together;

I the Lord have created it.

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