Isaiah 55:5-7

55:5 Look, you will summon nations ¹  you did not previously know;

nations ²  that did not previously know you will run to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, ³ 

for he bestows honor on you.

55:6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; ⁴ 

call to him while he is nearby!

55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle ⁵ 

and sinful people their plans. ⁶ 

They should return ⁷  to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, ⁸ 

and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. ⁹ 

[55:5]  ¹ tn Heb “a nation,” but the singular is collective here, as the plural verbs in the next line indicate (note that both “know” and “run” are third plural forms).

[55:5]  ² tn Heb “a nation,” but the singular is collective here, as the plural verbs that follow indicate.

[55:5]  ³ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

[55:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “while he allows himself to be found.” The Niphal form has a tolerative force here.

[55:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”

[55:7]  ⁸ tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.

[55:7]  ⁹ sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.