43:2 When you pass through the waters, I am with you;
when you pass 1 through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not harm 2 you.
44:16 Half of it he burns in the fire –
over that half he cooks 3 meat;
he roasts a meal and fills himself.
Yes, he warms himself and says,
‘Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.’
44:19 No one thinks to himself,
nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves:
‘I burned half of it in the fire –
yes, I baked bread over the coals;
I roasted meat and ate it.
With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol?
Should I bow down to dry wood?’ 4
1 tn The verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
2 tn Heb “burn” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV, NLT “consume”; NIV “set you ablaze.”
3 tn Heb “eats” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV “roasts.”
5 tn There is no formal interrogative sign here, but the context seems to indicate these are rhetorical questions. See GKC 473 §150.a.