Discovery BoxIsaiah 55:7-9 
Context55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle 1
and sinful people their plans. 2
They should return 3 to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, 4
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. 5
55:8 “Indeed, 6 my plans 7 are not like 8 your plans,
and my deeds 9 are not like 10 your deeds,
55:9 for just as the sky 11 is higher than the earth,
so my deeds 12 are superior to 13 your deeds
and my plans 14 superior to your plans.
1 tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.
2 tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.
3 tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”
4 tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.
5 sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.
6 tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).
7 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
9 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
10 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
11 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
12 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
13 tn Heb “are higher than.”
14 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
