Isaiah 47:9

47:9 Both of these will come upon you

suddenly, in one day!

You will lose your children and be widowed. ¹ 

You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, ² 

despite ³  your many incantations

and your numerous amulets. ⁴ 

Isaiah 47:12

47:12 Persist ⁵  in trusting ⁶  your amulets

and your many incantations,

which you have faithfully recited ⁷  since your youth!

Maybe you will be successful ⁸  –

maybe you will scare away disaster. ⁹ 

[47:9]  ¹ tn Heb “loss of children and widowhood.” In the Hebrew text the phrase is in apposition to “both of these” in line 1.

[47:9]  ² tn Heb “according to their fullness, they will come upon you.”

[47:9]  ³ tn For other examples of the preposition bet (בְּ) having the sense of “although, despite,” see BDB 90 s.v. III.7.

[47:9]  ⁴ sn Reference is made to incantations and amulets, both of which were important in Mesopotamian religion. They were used to ward off danger and demons.

[47:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “stand” (so KJV, ASV); NASB, NRSV “Stand fast.”

[47:12]  ⁶ tn The word “trusting” is supplied in the translation for clarification. See v. 9.

[47:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “in that which you have toiled.”

[47:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “maybe you will be able to profit.”

[47:12]  ⁹ tn Heb “maybe you will cause to tremble.” The object “disaster” is supplied in the translation for clarification. See the note at v. 9.