43:25 I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake;
your sins I do not remember.
43:26 Remind me of what happened! Let’s debate!
You, prove to me that you are right! 1
43:27 The father of your nation 2 sinned;
your spokesmen 3 rebelled against me.
43:28 So I defiled your holy princes,
and handed Jacob over to destruction,
and subjected 4 Israel to humiliating abuse.”
1 tn Heb “you, tell in order that you may be right”; NAB “prove your innocence.”
2 tn Heb “your first father.” This could refer to Abraham (see 51:2), but elsewhere in Isaiah he does not appear in a negative light (see 29:22; 41:8; 63:16). A more likely candidate is Jacob/Israel, also referred to as the nation’s “father” elsewhere (see 58:14; 63:16).
3 tn On the meaning of the term לִיץ (lits), see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ. This may refer to the nation’s prophets, priests, and/or kings.
4 tn The word “subjected” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.