Yesaya 3:12

3:12 Oppressors treat my ¹  people cruelly;

creditors rule over them. ² 

My people’s leaders mislead them;

they give you confusing directions. ³ 

Yesaya 40:31

40:31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help ⁴  find renewed strength;

they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, ⁵ 

they run without growing weary,

they walk without getting tired.

Yesaya 55:5

55:5 Look, you will summon nations ⁶  you did not previously know;

nations ⁷  that did not previously know you will run to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, ⁸ 

for he bestows honor on you.

Yesaya 56:11

56:11 The dogs have big appetites;

they are never full. ⁹ 

They are shepherds who have no understanding;

they all go their own way,

each one looking for monetary gain. ¹⁰ 

Yesaya 61:9

61:9 Their descendants will be known among the nations,

their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize that

the Lord has blessed them.” ¹¹ 

Yesaya 64:4

64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, ¹² 

no eye has seen any God besides you,

who intervenes for those who wait for him.

Yesaya 66:8

66:8 Who has ever heard of such a thing?

Who has ever seen this?

Can a country ¹³  be brought forth in one day?

Can a nation be born in a single moment?

Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons!

[3:12]  ¹ sn This may refer to the prophet or to the Lord.

[3:12]  ² tc The Hebrew text appears to read literally, “My people, his oppressors, he deals severely, and women rule over them.” The correct text and precise meaning of the verse are debated. The translation above assumes (1) an emendation of נֹגְשָׂיו (nogÿsayv, “his oppressors”) to נֹגְשִׂים (nogÿshim, “oppressors”) by moving the mem (ם) on the following form to the end of the word and dropping the vav (ו) as virtually dittographic; (2) an emendation of מְעוֹלֵל (mÿ’olel, a singular participle that does not agree with the preceding plural subject) to עֹלְלוּ (’olÿlu), a third plural Poel perfect from עָלַל (’alal, “deal severely”; note that the following form begins with a vav [ו]; the text may be haplographic or misdivided); and (3) an emendation (with support from the LXX) of נָשִׁים (nashim, “women”) to נֹשִׁים (noshim, “creditors”; a participle from נָשַׁא, nasa’). Another option is to emend מְעוֹלֵל to עוֹלְלִים (’olÿlim, “children”) and read, “My people’s oppressors are children; women rule over them.” In this case the point is the same as in v. 4; the leadership void left by the judgment will be filled by those incompetent to lead the community – children and women. (The text reflects the ancient Israelite patriarchal mindset.)

[3:12]  ³ tn Heb “and the way of your paths they confuse.” The verb בָּלַע (bala’, “confuse”; HALOT 135 s.v. I בלע) is a homonym of the more common בָּלַע (“swallow”; see HALOT 134 s.v. בלע).

[40:31]  ⁴ tn The words “for the Lord’s help” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[40:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “they rise up [on] wings like eagles” (TEV similar).

[55:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “a nation,” but the singular is collective here, as the plural verbs in the next line indicate (note that both “know” and “run” are third plural forms).

[55:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “a nation,” but the singular is collective here, as the plural verbs that follow indicate.

[55:5]  ⁸ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

[56:11]  ⁹ sn The phrase never full alludes to the greed of the leaders.

[56:11]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “for his gain from his end.”

[61:9]  ¹¹ tn Heb “all who see them will recognize them, that they [are] descendants [whom] the Lord has blessed.”

[64:4]  ¹² tn Heb “from ancient times they have not heard, they have not listened.”

[66:8]  ¹³ tn Heb “land,” but here אֶרֶץ (’erets) stands metonymically for an organized nation (see the following line).