Yesaya 44:7

44:7 Who is like me? Let him make his claim! ¹ 

Let him announce it and explain it to me –

since I established an ancient people – ² 

let them announce future events! ³ 

Yesaya 55:2

55:2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? ⁴ 

Why spend ⁵  your hard-earned money ⁶  on something that will not satisfy?

Listen carefully ⁷  to me and eat what is nourishing! ⁸ 

Enjoy fine food! ⁹ 

Yesaya 65:12

65:12 I predestine you to die by the sword, ¹⁰ 

all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block, ¹¹ 

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

I spoke and you did not listen.

You did evil before me; ¹² 

you chose to do what displeases me.”

[44:7]  ¹ tn Heb “let him call” or “let him proclaim” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “Let him stand up and speak.”

[44:7]  ² tc The Hebrew text reads, “from (the time) I established an ancient people, and the coming things.” Various emendations have been proposed. One of the options assumes the reading מַשְׁמִיעִים מֵעוֹלָם אוֹתִיּוֹת (mashmi’im me’olam ’otiyyot); This literally reads “the ones causing to hear from antiquity coming things,” but more idiomatically would read “as for those who predict from antiquity what will happen” (cf. NAB, NEB, REB). The emendation directs the attention of the reader to those who claim to be able to predict the future, challenging them to actually do what they claim they can do. The MT presents Yahweh as an example to whom these alleged “predictors of the future” can compare themselves. Since the ancient versions are unanimous in their support of the MT, the emendations should be set aside.

[44:7]  ³ tn Heb and those things which are coming let them declare for themselves.”

[55:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “for what is not food.”

[55:2]  ⁵ tn The interrogative particle and the verb “spend” are understood here by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[55:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “your labor,” which stands by metonymy for that which one earns.

[55:2]  ⁷ tn The infinitive absolute follows the imperative and lends emphasis to the exhortation.

[55:2]  ⁸ tn Heb “good” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[55:2]  ⁹ tn Heb “Let your appetite delight in fine food.”

[55:2]  sn Nourishing, fine food here represents the blessings God freely offers. These include forgiveness, a new covenantal relationship with God, and national prominence (see vv. 3-6).

[65:12]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn Or “at the slaughter”; NIV “for the slaughter”; NLT “before the executioner.”

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