40:27 Why do you say, Jacob,
Why do you say, Israel,
“The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, 1
My God is not concerned with my vindication”? 2
55:2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? 3
Why spend 4 your hard-earned money 5 on something that will not satisfy?
Listen carefully 6 to me and eat what is nourishing! 7
Enjoy fine food! 8
58:3 They lament, 9 ‘Why don’t you notice when we fast?
Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’
Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, 10
you oppress your workers. 11
1 tn Heb “my way is hidden from the Lord” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
2 tn Heb “and from my God my justice passes away”; NRSV “my right is disregarded by my God.”
3 tn Heb “for what is not food.”
4 tn The interrogative particle and the verb “spend” are understood here by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
5 tn Heb “your labor,” which stands by metonymy for that which one earns.
6 tn The infinitive absolute follows the imperative and lends emphasis to the exhortation.
7 tn Heb “good” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
8 tn Heb “Let your appetite delight in fine food.”
sn Nourishing, fine food here represents the blessings God freely offers. These include forgiveness, a new covenantal relationship with God, and national prominence (see vv. 3-6).
9 tn The words “they lament” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
10 tn Heb “you find pleasure”; NASB “you find your desire.”
11 tn Or perhaps, “debtors.” See HALOT 865 s.v. * עָצֵב.