Isaiah 6:8

6:8 I heard the voice of the sovereign master say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” ¹  I answered, “Here I am, send me!”

Isaiah 22:16

22:16 ‘What right do you have to be here? What relatives do you have buried here? ² 

Why ³  do you chisel out a tomb for yourself here?

He chisels out his burial site in an elevated place,

he carves out his tomb on a cliff.

Isaiah 29:15

29:15 Those who try to hide their plans from the Lord are as good as dead, ⁴ 

who do their work in secret and boast, ⁵ 

“Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?” ⁶ 

Isaiah 44:7

44:7 Who is like me? Let him make his claim! ⁷ 

Let him announce it and explain it to me –

since I established an ancient people – ⁸ 

let them announce future events! ⁹ 

[6:8]  ¹ tn Heb “for us.” The plural pronoun refers to the Lord, the seraphs, and the rest of the heavenly assembly.

[22:16]  ² tn Heb “What to you here? And who to you here?” The point of the second question is not entirely clear. The interpretation reflected in the translation is based on the following context, which suggests that Shebna has no right to think of himself so highly and arrange such an extravagant burial place for himself.

[22:16]  ³ tn Heb “that you chisel out.”

[29:15]  ³ tn Heb “Woe [to] those who deeply hide counsel from the Lord.” This probably alludes to political alliances made without seeking the Lord’s guidance. See 30:1-2 and 31:1.

[29:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “and their works are in darkness and they say.”

[29:15]  ⁵ tn The rhetorical questions suggest the answer, “no one.” They are confident that their deeds are hidden from others, including God.

[44:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “let him call” or “let him proclaim” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “Let him stand up and speak.”

[44:7]  ⁵ tc The Hebrew text reads, “from (the time) I established an ancient people, and the coming things.” Various emendations have been proposed. One of the options assumes the reading מַשְׁמִיעִים מֵעוֹלָם אוֹתִיּוֹת (mashmi’im me’olam ’otiyyot); This literally reads “the ones causing to hear from antiquity coming things,” but more idiomatically would read “as for those who predict from antiquity what will happen” (cf. NAB, NEB, REB). The emendation directs the attention of the reader to those who claim to be able to predict the future, challenging them to actually do what they claim they can do. The MT presents Yahweh as an example to whom these alleged “predictors of the future” can compare themselves. Since the ancient versions are unanimous in their support of the MT, the emendations should be set aside.

[44:7]  ⁶ tn Heb and those things which are coming let them declare for themselves.”