42:16 I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; 1
I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. 2
I will turn the darkness in front of them into light,
and level out the rough ground. 3
This is what I will do for them.
I will not abandon them.
44:19 No one thinks to himself,
nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves:
‘I burned half of it in the fire –
yes, I baked bread over the coals;
I roasted meat and ate it.
With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol?
Should I bow down to dry wood?’ 4
50:2 Why does no one challenge me when I come?
Why does no one respond when I call? 5
Is my hand too weak 6 to deliver 7 you?
Do I lack the power to rescue you?
Look, with a mere shout 8 I can dry up the sea;
I can turn streams into a desert,
so the fish rot away and die
from lack of water. 9
60:17 Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,
instead of iron, I will bring you silver,
instead of wood, I will bring you 10 bronze,
instead of stones, I will bring you 11 iron.
I will make prosperity 12 your overseer,
and vindication your sovereign ruler. 13
1 tn Heb “a way they do not know” (so NASB); NRSV “a road they do not know.”
2 tn Heb “in paths they do not know I will make them walk.”
3 tn Heb “and the rough ground into a level place.”
4 tn There is no formal interrogative sign here, but the context seems to indicate these are rhetorical questions. See GKC 473 §150.a.
5 sn The present tense translation of the verbs assumes that the Lord is questioning why Israel does not attempt to counter his arguments. Another possibility is to take the verbs as referring to past events: “Why did no one meet me when I came? Why did no one answer when I called?” In this case the Lord might be asking why Israel rejected his calls to repent and his offer to deliver them.
6 tn Heb “short” (so NAB, NASB, NIV).
7 tn Or “ransom” (NAB, NASB, NIV).
8 tn Heb “with my rebuke.”
9 tn Heb “the fish stink from lack of water and die from thirst.”
10 tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).
11 tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).
12 tn Or “peace” (KJV and many other English versions).
13 tn The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.