Isaiah 55:2

55:2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? ¹ 

Why spend ²  your hard-earned money ³  on something that will not satisfy?

Listen carefully ⁴  to me and eat what is nourishing! ⁵ 

Enjoy fine food! ⁶ 

Isaiah 23:18

23:18 Her profits and earnings will be set apart for the Lord. They will not be stored up or accumulated, for her profits will be given to those who live in the Lord’s presence and will be used to purchase large quantities of food and beautiful clothes. ⁷ 

[55:2]  ¹ tn Heb “for what is not food.”

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

[55:2]  ³ tn Heb “your labor,” which stands by metonymy for that which one earns.

[55:2]  ⁴ tn The infinitive absolute follows the imperative and lends emphasis to the exhortation.

[55:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “good” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[55:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “Let your appetite delight in fine food.”

[23:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “for eating to fullness and for beautiful covering[s].”