Isaiah 28:4

28:4 The withering flower, its beautiful splendor,

situated at the head of a rich valley,

will be like an early fig before harvest –

as soon as someone notices it,

he grabs it and swallows it. ¹ 

Isaiah 30:17

30:17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; ² 

at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, ³ 

until the remaining few are as isolated ⁴ 

as a flagpole on a mountaintop

or a signal flag on a hill.”

Isaiah 58:5

58:5 Is this really the kind of fasting I want? ⁵ 

Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, ⁶ 

bowing their heads like a reed

and stretching out ⁷  on sackcloth and ashes?

Is this really what you call a fast,

a day that is pleasing to the Lord?

[28:4]  ¹ tn Heb “which the one seeing sees, while still it is in his hand he swallows it.”

[30:17]  ² tn Heb “One thousand from before [or “because of”] one battle cry.” גְּעָרָה (gÿ’arah) is often defined as “threat,” but in war contexts it likely refers to a shout or battle cry. See Ps 76:6.

[30:17]  ³ tn Heb “from before [or “because of”] the battle cry of five you will flee.

[30:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “until you are left” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).

[58:5]  ³ tn Heb “choose” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “wish.”

[58:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “a day when man humbles himself.” The words “Do I want” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[58:5]  ⁵ tn Or “making [their] bed.”