Isaiah 5:2

5:2 He built a hedge around it, ¹  removed its stones,

and planted a vine.

He built a tower in the middle of it,

and constructed a winepress.

He waited for it to produce edible grapes,

but it produced sour ones instead. ² 

Isaiah 5:4

5:4 What more can I do for my vineyard

beyond what I have already done?

When I waited for it to produce edible grapes,

why did it produce sour ones instead?

Isaiah 5:7

5:7 Indeed ³  Israel ⁴  is the vineyard of the Lord who commands armies,

the people ⁵  of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight.

He waited for justice, but look what he got – disobedience! ⁶ 

He waited for fairness, but look what he got – cries for help! ⁷ 

Isaiah 40:31

40:31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help ⁸  find renewed strength;

they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, ⁹ 

they run without growing weary,

they walk without getting tired.

Isaiah 51:5

51:5 I am ready to vindicate, ¹⁰ 

I am ready to deliver, ¹¹ 

I will establish justice among the nations. ¹² 

The coastlands ¹³  wait patiently for me;

they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power. ¹⁴ 

Isaiah 59:9

Israel Confesses its Sin

59:9 For this reason deliverance ¹⁵  is far from us ¹⁶ 

and salvation does not reach us.

We wait for light, ¹⁷  but see only darkness; ¹⁸ 

we wait for ¹⁹  a bright light, ²⁰  but live ²¹  in deep darkness. ²² 

[5:2]  ¹ tn Or, “dug it up” (so NIV); KJV “fenced it.’ See HALOT 810 s.v. עזק.

[5:2]  ² tn Heb “wild grapes,” i.e., sour ones (also in v. 4).

[5:7]  ³ tn Or “For” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV).

[5:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “the house of Israel” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[5:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “men,” but in a generic sense.

[5:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “but, look, disobedience.” The precise meaning of מִשְׂפָּח (mishpakh), which occurs only here in the OT, is uncertain. Some have suggested a meaning “bloodshed.” The term is obviously chosen for its wordplay value; it sounds very much like מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, “justice”). The sound play draws attention to the point being made; the people have not met the Lord’s expectations.

[5:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “but, look, a cry for help.” The verb (“he waited”) does double duty in the parallelism. צְעָקָה (tsa’qah) refers to the cries for help made by the oppressed. It sounds very much like צְדָקָה (tsÿdaqah, “fairness”). The sound play draws attention to the point being made; the people have not met the Lord’s expectations.

[40:31]  ⁵ tn The words “for the Lord’s help” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[40:31]  ⁶ tn Heb “they rise up [on] wings like eagles” (TEV similar).

[51:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”] is near.”

[51:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “my deliverance goes forth.”

[51:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “and my arms will judge [on behalf of] nations.”

[51:5]  ¹⁰ tn Or “islands” (NIV); TEV “Distant lands.”

[51:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “for my arm” (so NIV, NRSV).

[59:9]  ⁹ tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.

[59:9]  ¹⁰ sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.

[59:9]  ¹¹ sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.

[59:9]  ¹² tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”

[59:9]  ¹³ tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[59:9]  ¹⁴ tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.

[59:9]  ¹⁵ tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”

[59:9]  ¹⁶ tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.