40:24 Indeed, they are barely planted;
yes, they are barely sown;
yes, they barely take root in the earth,
and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up,
and the wind carries them away like straw.
43:9 All nations gather together,
the peoples assemble.
Who among them announced this?
Who predicted earlier events for us? 1
Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right;
let them listen and affirm, ‘It is true.’
48:14 All of you, gather together and listen!
Who among them 2 announced these things?
The Lord’s ally 3 will carry out his desire against Babylon;
he will exert his power against the Babylonians. 4
64:5 You assist 5 those who delight in doing what is right, 6
who observe your commandments. 7
Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.
How then can we be saved? 8
1 tn Heb “and the former things was causing us to hear?”
1 sn This probably refers to the idol gods (see v. 5).
2 tn Or “friend,” or “covenant partner.”
3 tn Heb “and his arm [against] the Babylonians.”
1 tn Heb “meet [with kindness].”
2 tn Heb “the one who rejoices and does righteousness.”
3 tn Heb “in your ways they remember you.”
4 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “look, you were angry and we sinned against them continually [or perhaps, “in ancient times”] and we were delivered.” The statement makes little sense as it stands. The first vav [ו] consecutive (“and we sinned”) must introduce an explanatory clause here (see Num 1:48 and Isa 39:1 for other examples of this relatively rare use of the vav [ו] consecutive). The final verb (if rendered positively) makes no sense in this context – God’s anger at their sin resulted in judgment, not deliverance. One of the alternatives involves an emendation to וַנִּרְשָׁע (vannirsha’, “and we were evil”; LXX, NRSV, TEV). The Vulgate and the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa support the MT reading. One can either accept an emendation or cast the statement as a question (as above).
1 tn Heb “and I will set a sign among them.” The precise meaning of this statement is unclear. Elsewhere “to set a sign” means “perform a mighty act” (Ps 78:43; Jer 32:20), “make [someone] an object lesson” (Ezek 14:8), and “erect a [literal] standard” (Ps 74:4).
2 tn Some prefer to read “Put” (i.e., Libya).
3 sn That is, Lydia (in Asia Minor).
4 tn Heb “drawers of the bow” (KJV and ASV both similar).
5 sn Javan is generally identified today as Greece (so NIV, NCV, NLT).
6 tn Or “islands” (NIV).