Discovery BoxIsaiah 5:20 
Context5:20 Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead, 1
who turn darkness into light and light into darkness,
who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter. 2
Isaiah 59:9
Context59:9 For this reason deliverance 3 is far from us 4
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light, 5 but see only darkness; 6
we wait for 7 a bright light, 8 but live 9 in deep darkness. 10
Isaiah 60:19
Context60:19 The sun will no longer supply light for you by day,
nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you;
the Lord will be your permanent source of light –
the splendor of your God will shine upon you. 11
1 tn Heb “Woe [to] those who call.” See the note at v. 8.
2 sn In this verse the prophet denounces the perversion of moral standards. Darkness and bitterness are metaphors for evil; light and sweetness symbolize uprightness.
3 tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
4 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
5 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
6 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
7 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
8 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
9 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
10 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
11 tn Heb “and your God for your splendor.”
