5:11 Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, 1
those who keep drinking long after dark
until they are intoxicated with wine. 2
5:13 Therefore my 3 people will be deported 4
because of their lack of understanding.
Their 5 leaders will have nothing to eat, 6
their 7 masses will have nothing to drink. 8
30:20 The sovereign master 9 will give you distress to eat
and suffering to drink; 10
but your teachers will no longer be hidden;
your eyes will see them. 11
1 tn Heb “Woe [to] those who arise early in the morning, [who] chase beer.”
2 tn Heb “[who] delay until dark, [until] wine enflames them.”
sn This verse does not condemn drinking per se, but refers to the carousing lifestyle of the rich bureaucrats, made possible by wealth taken from the poor. Their carousing is not the fundamental problem, but a disgusting symptom of the real disease – their social injustice.
3 sn It is not certain if the prophet or the Lord is speaking at this point.
4 tn The suffixed (perfect) form of the verb is used; in this way the coming event is described for rhetorical effect as occurring or as already completed.
5 tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”
6 tn Heb “Their glory will be men of hunger.” כָּבוֹד (kavod, “glory”) is in opposition to הָמוֹן (hamon, “masses”) and refers here to the rich and prominent members of the nation. Some prefer to repoint מְתֵי (mÿtey, “men of”) as מִתֵי (mitey, “dead ones of”).
7 tn The third masculine singular suffix refers back to “my people.”
8 tn Heb “and their masses will be parched [by] thirst.”
9 tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).
10 tn Heb “and the Master will give to you bread – distress, and water – oppression.”
11 tn Heb “but your teachers will no longer be hidden, your eyes will be seeing your teachers.” The translation assumes that the form מוֹרֶיךָ (morekha) is a plural participle, referring to spiritual leaders such as prophets and priests. Another possibility is that the form is actually singular (see GKC 273-74 §93.ss) or a plural of respect, referring to God as the master teacher. See HALOT 560-61 s.v. III מוֹרֶה. For discussion of the views, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:560.