51:7 Listen to me, you who know what is right,
you people who are aware of my law! 1
Don’t be afraid of the insults of men;
don’t be discouraged because of their abuse!
51:12 “I, I am the one who consoles you. 2
Why are you afraid of mortal men,
of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass? 3
1 tn Heb “people (who have) my law in their heart.”
2 tc The plural suffix should probably be emended to the second masculine singular (which is used in v. 13). The final mem (ם) is probably dittographic; note the mem at the beginning of the next word.
3 tn Heb “Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who [as] grass is given up?” The feminine singular forms should probably be emended to the masculine singular (see v. 13). They have probably been influenced by the construction אַתְּ־הִיא (’at-hi’) in vv. 9-10.