Isaiah 19:9

19:9 Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed;

those who weave will turn pale. ¹ 

Isaiah 19:15

19:15 Egypt will not be able to do a thing,

head or tail, shoots and stalk. ² 

Isaiah 57:12

57:12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, ³ 

but they will not help you.

[19:9]  ¹ tn BDB 301 s.v. חוֹרִי suggests the meaning “white stuff” for חוֹרִי (khori); the Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a has חָוֵרוּ (khaveru), probably a Qal perfect, third plural form of חוּר, (khur, “be white, pale”). See HALOT 299 s.v. I חור. The latter reading is assumed in the translation above.

[19:15]  ² tn Heb “And there will not be for Egypt a deed, which head and tail, shoot and stalk can do.” In 9:14-15 the phrase “head or tail” refers to leaders and prophets, respectively. This interpretation makes good sense in this context, where both leaders and advisers (probably including prophets and diviners) are mentioned (vv. 11-14). Here, as in 9:14, “shoots and stalk” picture a reed, which symbolizes the leadership of the nation in its entirety.

[57:12]  ³ tn Heb “I, I will declare your righteousness and your deeds.”