40:29 He gives strength to those who are tired;
to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.
41:29 Look, all of them are nothing, 1
their accomplishments are nonexistent;
their metal images lack any real substance. 2
1 tc The Hebrew text has אָוֶן (’aven, “deception,” i.e., “false”), but the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has אין (“nothing”), which forms a better parallel with אֶפֶס (’efes, “nothing”) in the next line. See also 40:17 and 41:12.
2 tn Heb “their statues are wind and nothing”; NASB “wind and emptiness”; NIV “wind and confusion.”