1 Samuel 12:7

12:7 Now take your positions, so I may confront you ¹  before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors. ² 

Isaiah 1:18

1:18 ³ Come, let’s consider your options,” ⁴  says the Lord.

“Though your sins have stained you like the color red,

you can become ⁵  white like snow;

though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,

you can become ⁶  white like wool. ⁷ 

Isaiah 41:21

The Lord Challenges the Pagan Gods

41:21 “Present your argument,” says the Lord.

“Produce your evidence,” ⁸  says Jacob’s king. ⁹ 

Acts 24:25

24:25 While Paul ¹⁰  was discussing ¹¹  righteousness, self-control, ¹²  and the coming judgment, Felix ¹³  became ¹⁴  frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, ¹⁵  I will send for you.”

[12:7]  ¹ tn Heb “and I will enter into judgment with you” (NRSV similar); NAB “and I shall arraign you.”

[12:7]  ² tn Heb “all the just actions which he has done with you and with your fathers.”

[1:18]  ³ sn The Lord concludes his case against Israel by offering them the opportunity to be forgiven and by setting before them the alternatives of renewed blessing (as a reward for repentance) and final judgment (as punishment for persistence in sin).

[1:18]  ⁴ tn Traditionally, “let us reason together,” but the context suggests a judicial nuance. The Lord is giving the nation its options for the future.

[1:18]  ⁵ tn The imperfects must be translated as modal (indicating capability or possibility) to bring out the conditional nature of the offer. This purification will only occur if the people repent and change their ways.

[1:18]  ⁶ tn The imperfects must be translated as modal (indicating capability or possibility) to bring out the conditional nature of the offer. This purification will only occur if the people repent and change their ways.

[1:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “though your sins are like red, they will become white like snow; though they are red like scarlet, they will be like wool.” The point is not that the sins will be covered up, though still retained. The metaphorical language must be allowed some flexibility and should not be pressed into a rigid literalistic mold. The people’s sins will be removed and replaced by ethical purity. The sins that are now as obvious as the color red will be washed away and the ones who are sinful will be transformed.

[41:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “strong [words],” see HALOT 870 s.v. *עֲצֻמוֹת.

[41:21]  ⁹ sn Apparently this challenge is addressed to the pagan idol gods, see vv. 23-24.

[24:25]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:25]  ¹¹ tn Or “speaking about.”

[24:25]  ¹² tn Grk “and self-control.” This καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[24:25]  ¹³ sn See the note on Felix in 23:26.

[24:25]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “becoming.” The participle γενόμενος (genomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[24:25]  ¹⁵ tn Or “when I find time.” BDAG 639 s.v. μεταλαμβάνω 2 has “καιρὸν μ. have an opportunity = find time…Ac 24:25.”