Isaiah 57:16-18
New English Translation
16 For I will not be hostile[a] forever
or perpetually angry,
for then man’s spirit would grow faint before me,[b]
the life-giving breath I created.
17 I was angry because of their sinful greed;
I attacked them and angrily rejected them,[c]
yet they remained disobedient and stubborn.[d]
18 I have seen their behavior,[e]
but I will heal them. I will lead[f] them,
and I will provide comfort[g] to them and those who mourn with them.[h]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 57:16 tn Or perhaps, “argue,” or “accuse” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).
- Isaiah 57:16 tn Heb “for a spirit from before me would be faint.”
- Isaiah 57:17 tn Heb “and I struck him, hiding, and I was angry.” פָּנִים (panim, “face”) is the implied object of “hiding.”
- Isaiah 57:17 tn Heb “and he walked [as an] apostate in the way of his heart.”
- Isaiah 57:18 tn Heb “his ways” (so KJV, NASB, NIV); TEV “how they acted.”
- Isaiah 57:18 tc The MT has וְאַנְחֵהוּ (veʾankhehu) from נָחָה (nakhah) “I will lead them,” but the consonantal text may also be read as וַאֲנִחֵהוּ (vaʾanikhehu) from נוּחַ (nuakh) “I will give them rest.” The MT is supported by Aquila and the Vulgate, though 1QIsaa omits the verb and the LXX and Targum offer mixed evidence.
- Isaiah 57:18 tn The verb וַאֲשַׁלֵּם (vaʾashallem), the Piel form of the verb שָׁלֵם (shalem), means “to make whole, make restitution, compensate, reward” (HALOT 1534, s.v.). The noun נִחֻמִים (nikhumim) uses the plural form for the abstract concept, “comfort.” The Lord will bestow comfort as restitution to Israel.
- Isaiah 57:18 tn Heb “to him and to his mourners.” Since Israel is represented by the singular pronoun “to him” (rendered as plural “them” for style throughout vv. 17-19), those who mourn for, or with, him are likely religious converts or others who sympathize with Israel (see J. D. W. Watts, Isaiah [WBC], 25:835).
Isaiah 57:16-18
New International Version
16 I will not accuse(A) them forever,
nor will I always be angry,(B)
for then they would faint away because of me—
the very people(C) I have created.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;(D)
I punished them, and hid(E) my face in anger,
yet they kept on in their willful ways.(F)
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal(G) them;
I will guide(H) them and restore comfort(I) to Israel’s mourners,
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