Isaiah 22:13-14
Context22:13 But look, there is outright celebration! 1
You say, “Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep,
eat meat and drink wine.
Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 2
22:14 The Lord who commands armies told me this: 3 “Certainly this sin will not be forgiven as long as you live,” 4 says the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies.
1 tn Heb “happiness and joy.”
2 tn The prophet here quotes what the fatalistic people are saying. The introductory “you say” is supplied in the translation for clarification; the concluding verb “we die” makes it clear the people are speaking. The six verbs translated as imperatives are actually infinitives absolute, functioning here as finite verbs.
3 tn Heb “it was revealed in my ears [by?] the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].”
4 tn Heb “Certainly this sin will not be atoned for until you die.” This does not imply that their death will bring atonement; rather it emphasizes that their sin is unpardonable. The statement has the form of an oath.