34:24 He shatters the great without inquiry, 1
and sets up others in their place.
34:25 Therefore, he knows their deeds,
he overthrows them 2 in the night 3
and they are crushed.
34:26 He strikes them for their wickedness, 4
in a place where people can see, 5
34:27 because they have turned away from following him,
and have not understood 6 any of his ways,
34:28 so that they caused 7 the cry of the poor
to come before him,
so that he hears 8 the cry of the needy.
1 tn Heb “[with] no investigation.”
2 tn The direct object “them” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
3 tn The Hebrew term “night” is an accusative of time.
4 tn Heb “under wicked men,” or “under wickednesses.” J. C. Greenfield shows that the preposition can mean “among” as well (“Prepositions B Tachat in Jes 57:5,” ZAW 32 [1961]: 227). That would allow “among wicked men.” It could also be “instead of” or even “in return for [their wickedness]” which is what the RSV does.
5 tn The text simply uses רֹאִים (ro’im): “[in the place where there are] seers,” i.e., spectators.
6 tn The verb הִשְׂכִּילוּ (hiskilu) means “to be prudent; to be wise.” From this is derived the idea of “be wise in understanding God’s will,” and “be successful because of prudence” – i.e., successful with God.
7 tn The verse begins with the infinitive construct of בּוֹא (bo’, “go”), showing the result of their impious actions.
8 tn The verb here is an imperfect; the clause is circumstantial to the preceding clause, showing either the result, or the concomitant action.