55:5 Look, you will summon nations 1 you did not previously know;
nations 2 that did not previously know you will run to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, 3
for he bestows honor on you.
55:6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; 4
call to him while he is nearby!
55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle 5
and sinful people their plans. 6
They should return 7 to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, 8
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. 9
1 tn Heb “a nation,” but the singular is collective here, as the plural verbs in the next line indicate (note that both “know” and “run” are third plural forms).
2 tn Heb “a nation,” but the singular is collective here, as the plural verbs that follow indicate.
3 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
4 tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.
5 tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.
6 tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.
7 tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”
8 tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.
9 sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.