Isaiah 40:19

40:19 A craftsman casts ¹  an idol;

a metalsmith overlays it with gold

and forges silver chains for it.

Isaiah 55:1

The Lord Gives an Invitation

55:1 “Hey, ²  all who are thirsty, come to the water!

You who have no money, come!

Buy and eat!

Come! Buy wine and milk

without money and without cost! ³ 

Isaiah 2:7

2:7 Their land is full of gold and silver;

there is no end to their wealth. ⁴ 

Their land is full of horses;

there is no end to their chariots. ⁵ 

Isaiah 7:23

7:23 At that time ⁶  every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun ⁷  with thorns and briers.

Isaiah 13:17

13:17 Look, I am stirring up the Medes to attack them; ⁸ 

they are not concerned about silver,

nor are they interested in gold. ⁹ 

Isaiah 55:2

55:2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? ¹⁰ 

Why spend ¹¹  your hard-earned money ¹²  on something that will not satisfy?

Listen carefully ¹³  to me and eat what is nourishing! ¹⁴ 

Enjoy fine food! ¹⁵ 

Isaiah 60:17

60:17 Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,

instead of iron, I will bring you silver,

instead of wood, I will bring you ¹⁶  bronze,

instead of stones, I will bring you ¹⁷  iron.

I will make prosperity ¹⁸  your overseer,

and vindication your sovereign ruler. ¹⁹ 

[40:19]  ¹ tn Heb “pours out”; KJV “melteth.”

[55:1]  ² tn The Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) was used in funeral laments and is often prefixed to judgment oracles for rhetorical effect. But here it appears to be a simple interjection, designed to grab the audience’s attention. Perhaps there is a note of sorrow or pity. See BDB 223 s.v.

[55:1]  ³ sn The statement is an oxymoron. Its ironic quality adds to its rhetorical impact. The statement reminds one of the norm (one must normally buy commodities) as it expresses the astounding offer. One might paraphrase the statement: “Come and take freely what you normally have to pay for.”

[2:7]  ³ tn Or “treasuries”; KJV “treasures.”

[2:7]  ⁴ sn Judah’s royal bureaucracy had accumulated great wealth and military might, in violation of Deut 17:16-17.

[7:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “in that day.” The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[7:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “will become” (so NASB); NAB “shall be turned to.”

[13:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “against them”; NLT “against Babylon.”

[13:17]  ⁶ sn They cannot be bought off, for they have a lust for bloodshed.

[55:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “for what is not food.”

[55:2]  ⁷ tn The interrogative particle and the verb “spend” are understood here by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[55:2]  ⁸ tn Heb “your labor,” which stands by metonymy for that which one earns.

[55:2]  ⁹ tn The infinitive absolute follows the imperative and lends emphasis to the exhortation.

[55:2]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “good” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[55:2]  ¹¹ tn Heb “Let your appetite delight in fine food.”

[60:17]  ⁷ tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).

[60:17]  ⁸ tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).

[60:17]  ⁹ tn Or “peace” (KJV and many other English versions).

[60:17]  ¹⁰ tn The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.