Isaiah 10:1-2

10:1 Those who enact unjust policies are as good as dead,

those who are always instituting unfair regulations,

10:2 to keep the poor from getting fair treatment,

and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice,

so they can steal what widows own,

and loot what belongs to orphans.


tn Heb “Woe [to] those who decree evil decrees.” On הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) see the note on the first phrase of 1:4.

tn Heb “[to] the writers who write out harm.” The participle and verb are in the Piel, suggesting repetitive action.

tn Or “rob” (ASV, NASB, NCV, NRSV); KJV “take away the right from the poor.”

tn Heb “so that widows are their plunder, and they can loot orphans.”