Yesaya 65:12

65:12 I predestine you to die by the sword, ¹ 

all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block, ² 

because I called to you, and you did not respond,

I spoke and you did not listen.

You did evil before me; ³ 

you chose to do what displeases me.”

Yesaya 66:4

66:4 So I will choose severe punishment ⁴  for them;

I will bring on them what they dread,

because I called, and no one responded,

I spoke and they did not listen.

They did evil before me; ⁵ 

they chose to do what displeases me.”

[65:12]  ¹ tn Heb “I assign you to the sword.” Some emend the Qal verb form מָנִיתִי (maniti, “I assign”) to the Piel מִנִּיתִי (minniti, “ I ordain”). The verb sounds like the name of the god Meni (מְנִי, mÿni, “Destiny, Fate”). The sound play draws attention to the irony of the statement. The sinners among God’s people worship the god Meni, apparently in an effort to ensure a bright destiny for themselves. But the Lord is the one who really determines their destiny and he has decreed their demise.

[65:12]  ² tn Or “at the slaughter”; NIV “for the slaughter”; NLT “before the executioner.”

[65:12]  ³ tn Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”

[66:4]  ⁴ tn The precise meaning of the noun is uncertain. It occurs only here and in 3:4 (but see the note there). It appears to be derived from the verbal root עָלַל (’alal), which can carry the nuance “deal severely.”

[66:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”