Yesaya 41:23

41:23 Predict how future events will turn out, ¹ 

so we might know you are gods.

Yes, do something good or bad,

so we might be frightened and in awe. ² 

Yesaya 47:12

47:12 Persist ³  in trusting ⁴  your amulets

and your many incantations,

which you have faithfully recited ⁵  since your youth!

Maybe you will be successful ⁶  –

maybe you will scare away disaster. ⁷ 

Yesaya 57:6

57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;

they, they are the object of your devotion. ⁸ 

You pour out liquid offerings to them,

you make an offering.

Because of these things I will seek vengeance. ⁹ 

[41:23]  ¹ tn Heb “Declare the coming things, with respect to the end.”

[41:23]  ² tc The translation assumes the Qere (וְנִרְאֶה [vÿnir’eh], from יָרֵא [yare’], “be afraid”).

[41:23]  tn Heb “so we might be frightened and afraid together.” On the meaning of the verb שָׁתָע (shata’), see the note at v. 10.

[47:12]  ³ tn Heb “stand” (so KJV, ASV); NASB, NRSV “Stand fast.”

[47:12]  ⁴ tn The word “trusting” is supplied in the translation for clarification. See v. 9.

[47:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “in that which you have toiled.”

[47:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “maybe you will be able to profit.”

[47:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “maybe you will cause to tremble.” The object “disaster” is supplied in the translation for clarification. See the note at v. 9.

[57:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “among the smooth stones of the stream [is] your portion, they, they [are] your lot.” The next line indicates idols are in view.

[57:6]  ⁹ tn The text reads literally, “Because of these am I relenting?” If the prefixed interrogative particle is retained at the beginning of the sentence, then the question would be rhetorical, with the Niphal of נָחָם (nakham) probably being used in the sense of “relent, change one’s mind.” One could translate: “Because of these things, how can I relent?” However, the initial letter he may be dittographic (note the final he [ה] on the preceding word). In this case one may understand the verb in the sense of “console oneself, seek vengeance,” as in 1:24.