¹ tn Heb “man of worthlessness.”

¹ tn Heb “sons of worthlessness.”

¹ tn Heb “daughter of worthlessness.”

¹ tn Heb “a man of worthlessness.”

² tn Heb “he is a son of worthlessness.”

¹ tn Or “worthless” (NASB, NCV, CEV); KJV, ASV “vain.”

² tn Heb “empty things” or “vain things”; NRSV “follows worthless pursuits.”

¹ tn Heb “sons of worthlessness” (see 2:12).

¹ tn Heb “men, sons of Belial.” The Hebrew term בְּלִיַּעַל (b^eliyyaʿal) has the idea of worthlessness, without morals or scruples (HALOT 133-34 s.v.). Cf. NAB, NRSV “scoundrels”; TEV, CEV “worthless people”; NLT “worthless rabble.”

² tn The Israelites’ opinion about the manna was clear enough—“worthless.” The word used is קְלֹקֵל (q^eloqel, “good for nothing, worthless, miserable”).

¹ tn Heb “Make my eyes pass by from looking at what is worthless.”

¹ tn Heb “I will not set before my eyes a thing of worthlessness.”

¹ tc The LXX contains a paraphrase: “for the worthless die, but the righteous are laughed to scorn.”

⁴ tn The words “to me” are not in the Hebrew text but are implicit from the context: Heb “they followed after the worthless thing/things and became worthless.” There is an obvious wordplay on the verb “became worthless” and the noun “worthless thing,” which is probably to be understood collectively and to refer to idols, as it does in Jer 8:19; 10:8; 14:22; Jonah 2:8.

¹ tn The Hebrew term אֱלִילִים (ʾelilim, “worthless”) sounds like אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim, “gods”). The sound play draws attention to the statement.

¹ tn The reference is to the fathers of the scorners, who are here regarded as weak and worthless.

³ tn Heb “they followed after the worthless thing/things and became worthless.” The words “to the Lord” are not in the Hebrew text but are implicit from the context. There is an obvious wordplay on the verb “became worthless” and the noun “worthless thing”, which is probably to be understood collectively and to refer to idols as it does in Jer 8:19; 10:8; 14:22; Jonah 2:8.

¹ tn Heb “worthless and whitewash.” The words שָׁוְא וְתָפֵל (shavʾ v^etafel) form a nominal hendiadys, meaning “worthless whitewash” or “worthless deceptions.” The noun תָּפֵל (tafel, “whitewash”) is used literally in reference to a white-washed wall (Ezek 13:10, 11, 14, 15) and figuratively in reference to false prophets (Ezek 22:28).

² tn Heb “shaking nations in a sieve of worthlessness.” It is not certain exactly how שָׁוְא (shav^eʾ, “emptiness, worthlessness”) modifies “sieve.” A sieve is used to separate grain from chaff and isolate what is worthless so that it might be discarded. Perhaps the nations are likened to such chaff; God’s judgment will sift them out for destruction.

⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term translated “worthless idols” is uncertain; cf. KJV “the commandment,” NASB “man’s command,” NAB “filth,” and NRSV “vanity.”