5:19 They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, 1
so we can see;
let the plan of the Holy One of Israel 2 take shape 3 and come to pass,
then we will know it!”
51:14 The one who suffers 4 will soon be released;
he will not die in prison, 5
he will not go hungry. 6
1 tn Heb “let his work hurry, let it hasten.” The pronoun “his” refers to God, as the parallel line makes clear. The reference to his “work” alludes back to v. 12, which refers to his ‘work” of judgment. With these words the people challenged the prophet’s warning of approaching judgment. They were in essence saying that they saw no evidence that God was about to work in such a way.
2 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
3 tn Heb “draw near” (so NASB); NRSV “hasten to fulfillment.”
4 tn Heb “who is stooped over” (under a burden).
5 tn Heb “the pit” (so KJV); ASV, NAB “die and go down into the pit”; NASB, NIV “dungeon”; NCV “prison.”
6 tn Heb “he will not lack his bread.”