Isaiah 1:3

An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; ¹  but Israel does not recognize me, ²  my people do not understand.”

The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."

"An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand."

Even the animals––the donkey and the ox––know their owner and appreciate his care, but not my people Israel. No matter what I do for them, they still do not understand."

The ox knows who's boss, the mule knows the hand that feeds him, But not Israel. My people don't know up from down.

Even the ox has knowledge of its owner, and the ass of the place where its master puts its food: but Israel has no knowledge, my people give no thought to me.

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.

The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider."

An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; ¹  but Israel does not recognize me, ²  my people do not understand.”

¹ tn Heb “and the donkey the feeding trough of its owner.” The verb in the first line does double duty in the parallelism.

² tn Although both verbs have no object, the parallelism suggests that Israel fails to recognize the Lord as the one who provides for their needs. In both clauses, the placement of “Israel” and “my people” at the head of the clause focuses the reader’s attention on the rebellious nation (C. van der Merwe, J. Naudé, J. Kroeze, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar, 346-47).