Isaiah 55:7

55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle ¹ 

and sinful people their plans. ² 

They should return ³  to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, ⁴ 

and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. ⁵ 

Titus 3:4-7

3:4 ⁶  But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us in full measure ⁷  through Jesus Christ our Savior. 3:7 And so, ⁸  since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” ⁹ 

¹ tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.

² tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.

³ tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”

⁴ tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.

⁵ 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.

⁶ tn Verses 4-7 are set as poetry in NA²⁶/NA²⁷. These verses probably constitute the referent of the expression “this saying” in v. 8.

⁷ tn Or “on us richly.”

⁸ tn This is the conclusion of a single, skillfully composed sentence in Greek encompassing Titus 3:4-7. Showing the goal of God’s merciful salvation, v. 7 begins literally, “in order that, being justified…we might become heirs…”

⁹ tn Grk “heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”