Yesaya 45:19

45:19 I have not spoken in secret,

in some hidden place. ¹ 

I did not tell Jacob’s descendants,

‘Seek me in vain!’ ² 

I am the Lord,

the one who speaks honestly,

who makes reliable announcements. ³ 

Yesaya 55:6-7

55:6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; ⁴ 

call to him while he is nearby!

55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle ⁵ 

and sinful people their plans. ⁶ 

They should return ⁷  to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, ⁸ 

and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. ⁹ 

[45:19]  ¹ tn Heb “in a place of a land of darkness” (ASV similar); NASB “in some dark land.”

[45:19]  ² tn “In vain” translates תֹהוּ (tohu), used here as an adverbial accusative: “for nothing.”

[45:19]  ³ tn The translation above assumes that צֶדֶק (tsedeq) and מֵישָׁרִים (mesharim) are adverbial accusatives (see 33:15). If they are taken as direct objects, indicating the content of what is spoken, one might translate, “who proclaims deliverance, who announces justice.”

[55:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.

[55:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”

[55:7]  ⁸ tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.

[55:7]  ⁹ sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.