Isaiah 46:7-8

46:7 They put it on their shoulder and carry it;

they put it in its place and it just stands there;

it does not ¹  move from its place.

Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply;

it does not deliver him from his distress.

46:8 Remember this, so you can be brave! ² 

Think about it, you rebels! ³ 

[46:7]  ¹ tn Or perhaps, “cannot,” here and in the following two lines. The imperfect forms can indicate capability.

[46:8]  ² tn The meaning of the verb אָשַׁשׁ (’ashash, which appears here in the Hitpolel stem) is uncertain. BDB 84 s.v. אשׁשׁ relates it to a root meaning “found, establish” in Arabic; HALOT 100 s.v. II אשׁשׁ gives the meaning “pluck up courage.” The imperative with vav (ו) may indicate purpose following the preceding imperative.

[46:8]  ³ tn Heb “return [it], rebels, to heart”; NRSV “recall it to mind, you transgressors.”