Yesaya 1:9

1:9 If the Lord who commands armies ¹  had not left us a few survivors,

we would have quickly become like Sodom, ² 

we would have become like Gomorrah.

Yesaya 10:25

10:25 For very soon my fury ³  will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.”

Yesaya 30:5

30:5 all will be put to shame ⁴ 

because of a nation that cannot help them,

who cannot give them aid or help,

but only shame and disgrace.”

Yesaya 38:20

38:20 The Lord is about to deliver me, ⁵ 

and we will celebrate with music ⁶ 

for the rest of our lives in the Lord’s temple.” ⁷ 

Yesaya 48:13

48:13 Yes, my hand founded the earth;

my right hand spread out the sky.

I summon them;

they stand together.

Yesaya 59:14

59:14 Justice is driven back;

godliness ⁸  stands far off.

Indeed, ⁹  honesty stumbles in the city square

and morality is not even able to enter.

Yesaya 66:7

66:7 Before she goes into labor, she gives birth!

Before her contractions begin, she delivers a boy!

[1:9]  ¹ tn Traditionally, “the Lord of hosts.” The title pictures God as the sovereign king who has at his disposal a multitude of attendants, messengers, and warriors to do his bidding. In some contexts, like this one, the military dimension of his rulership is highlighted. In this case, the title pictures him as one who leads armies into battle against his enemies.

[1:9]  ² tc The translation assumes that כִּמְעָט (kim’at, “quickly,” literally, “like a little”) goes with what follows, contrary to the MT accents, which take it with what precedes. In this case, one could translate the preceding line, “If the Lord who commands armies had not left us a few survivors.” If כִּמְעָט goes with the preceding line (following the MT accents), this expression highlights the idea that there would only be a few survivors (H. Wildberger, Isaiah, 1:20; H. Zobel, TDOT 8:456). Israel would not be almost like Sodom but exactly like Sodom.

[10:25]  ³ tc The Hebrew text has simply “fury,” but the pronominal element can be assumed on the basis of what immediately follows (see “my anger” in the clause). It is possible that the suffixed yod (י) has been accidentally dropped by virtual haplography. Note that a vav (ו) is prefixed to the form that immediately follows; yod and vav are very similar in later script phases.

[30:5]  ⁴ tn The present translation follows the marginal (Qere) reading of the Hebrew text; the consonantal text (Kethib) has “made to stink, decay.”

[38:20]  ⁵ tn The infinitive construct is used here to indicate that an action is imminent. See GKC 348-49 §114.i, and IBHS 610 §36.2.3g.

[38:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “and music [or perhaps, “stringed instruments”] we will play.”

[38:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “all the days of our lives in the house of the Lord.”

[38:20]  sn Note that vv. 21-22 have been placed between vv. 6-7, where they logically belong. See 2 Kgs 20:7-8.

[59:14]  ⁸ tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”

[59:14]  ⁹ tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).