Discovery BoxIsaiah 5:19 
Context5:19 They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, 1
so we can see;
let the plan of the Holy One of Israel 2 take shape 3 and come to pass,
then we will know it!”
Isaiah 29:15
Context29:15 Those who try to hide their plans from the Lord are as good as dead, 4
who do their work in secret and boast, 5
“Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?” 6
1 tn Heb “let his work hurry, let it hasten.” The pronoun “his” refers to God, as the parallel line makes clear. The reference to his “work” alludes back to v. 12, which refers to his ‘work” of judgment. With these words the people challenged the prophet’s warning of approaching judgment. They were in essence saying that they saw no evidence that God was about to work in such a way.
2 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
3 tn Heb “draw near” (so NASB); NRSV “hasten to fulfillment.”
4 tn Heb “Woe [to] those who deeply hide counsel from the Lord.” This probably alludes to political alliances made without seeking the Lord’s guidance. See 30:1-2 and 31:1.
5 tn Heb “and their works are in darkness and they say.”
6 tn The rhetorical questions suggest the answer, “no one.” They are confident that their deeds are hidden from others, including God.
