3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
3 Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
41 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
41 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.
41 When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
41 Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, heard that Abner had died in Hebron. His heart sank. The whole country was shaken.
41 When Saul's son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.
41 When Ishbosheth, Saul's son, heard about Abner's death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.
(Read 2 Samuel 4:1-7)
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 35:3
Commentary on Isaiah 35:1-4
(Read Isaiah 35:1-4)
Judea was prosperous in the days of Hezekiah, but the kingdom of Christ is the great subject intended. Converting grace makes the soul that was a wilderness, to rejoice with joy and singing, and to blossom abundantly. The feeble and faint-hearted are encouraged. This is the design of the gospel. Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it, the stronger we are, both for doing and suffering; and he that says to us, Be strong, has laid help for us upon One who is mighty. Assurance is given of the approach of Messiah, to take vengeance on the powers of darkness, to recompense with abundant comforts those that mourn in Zion; He will come and save. He will come again at the end of time, to punish those who have troubled his people; and to give those who were troubled such rest as will be a full reward for all their troubles.