Isaiah 55:11

55:11 In the same way, the promise that I make

does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. ¹ 

No, it is realized as I desire

and is fulfilled as I intend.” ² 

Isaiah 62:4

62:4 You will no longer be called, “Abandoned,”

and your land will no longer be called “Desolate.”

Indeed, ³  you will be called “My Delight is in Her,” ⁴ 

and your land “Married.” ⁵ 

For the Lord will take delight in you,

and your land will be married to him. ⁶ 

Isaiah 65:12

65:12 I predestine you to die by the sword, ⁷ 

all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block, ⁸ 

because I called to you, and you did not respond,

I spoke and you did not listen.

You did evil before me; ⁹ 

you chose to do what displeases me.”

Isaiah 66:3-4

66:3 The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; ¹⁰ 

the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; ¹¹ 

the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; ¹² 

the one who offers incense also praises an idol. ¹³ 

They have decided to behave this way; ¹⁴ 

they enjoy these disgusting practices. ¹⁵ 

66:4 So I will choose severe punishment ¹⁶  for them;

I will bring on them what they dread,

because I called, and no one responded,

I spoke and they did not listen.

They did evil before me; ¹⁷ 

they chose to do what displeases me.”

[55:11]  ¹ tn Heb “so is the word which goes out from my mouth, it does not return to empty.” “Word” refers here to divine promises, like the ones made just prior to and after this (see vv. 7b, 12-13).

[55:11]  ² tn Heb “but it accomplishes what I desire, and succeeds [on the mission] which I send it.”

[62:4]  ³ tn Or “for”; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV “but.”

[62:4]  ⁴ tn Hebrew חֶפְצִי־בָהּ (kheftsi-vah), traditionally transliterated “Hephzibah” (so KJV, ASV, NIV).

[62:4]  ⁵ tn Hebrew בְּעוּלָה (bÿ’ulah), traditionally transliterated “Beulah” (so KJV, ASV, NIV).

[62:4]  ⁶ tn That is, the land will be restored to the Lord’s favor and once again enjoy his blessing and protection. To indicate the land’s relationship to the Lord, the words “to him” have been supplied at the end of the clause.

[65:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “I assign you to the sword.” Some emend the Qal verb form מָנִיתִי (maniti, “I assign”) to the Piel מִנִּיתִי (minniti, “ I ordain”). The verb sounds like the name of the god Meni (מְנִי, mÿni, “Destiny, Fate”). The sound play draws attention to the irony of the statement. The sinners among God’s people worship the god Meni, apparently in an effort to ensure a bright destiny for themselves. But the Lord is the one who really determines their destiny and he has decreed their demise.

[65:12]  ⁶ tn Or “at the slaughter”; NIV “for the slaughter”; NLT “before the executioner.”

[65:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”

[66:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “one who slaughters a bull, one who strikes down a man.” Some understand a comparison here and in the following lines. In God’s sight the one who sacrifices is like (i.e., regarded as) a murderer or one whose worship is ritually defiled or idolatrous. The translation above assumes that the language is not metaphorical, but descriptive of the sinners’ hypocritical behavior. (Note the last two lines of the verse, which suggests they are guilty of abominable practices.) On the one hand, they act pious and offer sacrifices; but at the same time they commit violent crimes against men, defile their sacrifices, and worship other gods.

[66:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “one who sacrifices a lamb, one who breaks a dog’s neck.” Some understand a comparison, but see the previous note.

[66:3]  ⁹ tn Heb “one who offers an offering, pig’s blood.” Some understand a comparison, but see the note at the end of the first line.

[66:3]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “one who offers incense as a memorial offering, one who blesses something false.” Some understand a comparison, but see the note at the end of the first line. אָוֶן (’aven), which has a wide variety of attested nuances, here refers metonymically to an idol. See HALOT 22 s.v. and BDB 20 s.v. 2.

[66:3]  ¹¹ tn Heb “also they have chosen their ways.”

[66:3]  ¹² tn Heb “their being [or “soul”] takes delight in their disgusting [things].”

[66:4]  ⁹ tn The precise meaning of the noun is uncertain. It occurs only here and in 3:4 (but see the note there). It appears to be derived from the verbal root עָלַל (’alal), which can carry the nuance “deal severely.”

[66:4]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”