Isaiah 1:16

1:16 ¹ Wash! Cleanse yourselves!

Remove your sinful deeds ² 

from my sight.

Stop sinning!

Isaiah 59:12

59:12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, ³ 

and our sins testify against us;

indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds;

we know our sins all too well. ⁴ 

[1:16]  ¹ sn Having demonstrated the people’s guilt, the Lord calls them to repentance, which will involve concrete action in the socio-economic realm, not mere emotion.

[1:16]  ² sn This phrase refers to Israel’s covenant treachery (cf. Deut 28:10; Jer 4:4; 21:12; 23:2, 22; 25:5; 26:3; 44:22; Hos 9:15; Ps 28:4). In general, the noun ַמעַלְלֵיכֶם (ma’alleykhem) can simply be a reference to deeds, whether good or bad. However, Isaiah always uses it with a negative connotation (cf. 3:8, 10).

[59:12]  ³ tn Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”

[59:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”