1:16 1 Wash! Cleanse yourselves!
Remove your sinful deeds 2
from my sight.
Stop sinning!
32:6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; 3
his mind plans out sinful deeds. 4
He commits godless deeds 5
and says misleading things about the Lord;
he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite 6
and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. 7
59:12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, 8
and our sins testify against us;
indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds;
we know our sins all too well. 9
1 sn Having demonstrated the people’s guilt, the Lord calls them to repentance, which will involve concrete action in the socio-economic realm, not mere emotion.
2 sn This phrase refers to Israel’s covenant treachery (cf. Deut 28:10; Jer 4:4; 21:12; 23:2, 22; 25:5; 26:3; 44:22; Hos 9:15; Ps 28:4). In general, the noun ַמעַלְלֵיכֶם (ma’alleykhem) can simply be a reference to deeds, whether good or bad. However, Isaiah always uses it with a negative connotation (cf. 3:8, 10).
3 tn Or “foolishness,” in a moral-ethical sense. See 9:17.
4 tn Heb “and his heart commits sin”; KJV, ASV “his heart will work iniquity”; NASB “inclines toward wickedness.”
5 tn Heb “in order to do [or “so that he does”] what is godless [or “defiled”].”
6 tn Heb “so that he leaves empty the appetite [or “desire”] of the hungry.”
7 tn Heb “and the drink of the thirsty he causes to fail.”
8 tn Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”
9 tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”