Isaiah 41:27-29

41:27 I first decreed to Zion, ‘Look, here’s what will happen!’ ¹ 

I sent a herald to Jerusalem. ² 

41:28 I look, but there is no one,

among them there is no one who serves as an adviser,

that I might ask questions and receive answers.

41:29 Look, all of them are nothing, ³ 

their accomplishments are nonexistent;

their metal images lack any real substance. ⁴ 

[41:27]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text reads simply, “First to Zion, ‘Look here they are!’” The words “I decreed” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[41:27]  ² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[41:29]  ³ tc The Hebrew text has אָוֶן (’aven, “deception,” i.e., “false”), but the Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a has אין (“nothing”), which forms a better parallel with אֶפֶס (’efes, “nothing”) in the next line. See also 40:17 and 41:12.

[41:29]  ⁴ tn Heb “their statues are wind and nothing”; NASB “wind and emptiness”; NIV “wind and confusion.”