Isaiah 1:12

1:12 When you enter my presence,

do you actually think I want this –

animals trampling on my courtyards? ¹ 

Isaiah 22:9

22:9 You saw the many breaks

in the walls of the city of David; ² 

you stored up water in the lower pool.

Isaiah 23:8

23:8 Who planned this for royal Tyre, ³ 

whose merchants are princes,

whose traders are the dignitaries ⁴  of the earth?

Isaiah 27:4

27:4 I am not angry.

I wish I could confront some thorns and briers!

Then I would march against them ⁵  for battle;

I would set them ⁶  all on fire,

Isaiah 40:14

40:14 From whom does he receive directions? ⁷ 

Who ⁸  teaches him the correct way to do things, ⁹ 

or imparts knowledge to him,

or instructs him in skillful design? ¹⁰ 

Isaiah 54:15

54:15 If anyone dares to ¹¹  challenge you, it will not be my doing!

Whoever tries to challenge you will be defeated. ¹² 

[1:12]  ¹ tn Heb “When you come to appear before me, who requires this from your hand, trampling of my courtyards?” The rhetorical question sarcastically makes the point that God does not require this parade of livestock. The verb “trample” probably refers to the eager worshipers and their sacrificial animals walking around in the temple area.

[22:9]  ² tn Heb “the breaks of the city of David, you saw that they were many.”

[23:8]  ³ tn The precise meaning of הַמַּעֲטִירָה (hamma’atirah) is uncertain. The form is a Hiphil participle from עָטַר (’atar), a denominative verb derived from עֲטָרָה (’atarah, “crown, wreath”). The participle may mean “one who wears a crown” or “one who distributes crowns.” In either case, Tyre’s prominence in the international political arena is in view.

[23:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “the honored” (so NASB, NRSV); NIV “renowned.”

[27:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “it.” The feminine singular suffix apparently refers back to the expression “thorns and briers,” understood in a collective sense. For other examples of a cohortative expressing resolve after a hypothetical statement introduced by נָתַן with מִי (miwith natan), see Judg 9:29; Jer 9:1-2; Ps 55:6.

[27:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “it.” The feminine singular suffix apparently refers back to the expression “thorns and briers,” understood in a collective sense.

[40:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “With whom did he consult, so that he gave discernment to him?”

[40:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “and taught him.” The vav (ו) consecutive with prefixed verbal form continues the previous line. The translation employs an interrogative pronoun for stylistic reasons.

[40:14]  ⁷ tn The phrase אֹרַח מִשְׁפָּט (’orakh mishpat) could be translated “path of justice” (so NASB, NRSV), but in this context, where creative ability and skill is in view, the phrase is better understood in the sense of “the way that is proper or fitting” (see BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 6); cf. NIV, NCV “the right way.”

[40:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “or the way of understanding causes him to know?”

[54:15]  ⁶ tn The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb here for emphasis.

[54:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “will fall over you.” The expression נָפַל עַל (nafal ’al) can mean “attack,” but here it means “fall over to,” i.e., “surrender to.”