Wednesday 28 February 2018

Isaiah 41

Verses 6 and 7 are called an interpolation in the JB notes. They seem to be referring to specific work within the industrial or construction trades. Nails spelled סמר rather than שׂמר.  But interpolation or not, perhaps it is a glimpse into a side room where people help each other, an alternative universe, where people in response to God, do not hurt each other or build up massive walls of self-protection.

Verse 19, supposed to be a good tree - I have taken שׁוט as acacia שׁטה rather than scourge שׁטט.

Verse 28,  if I asked them. Reading vav as if in this case seems a forced move but certainly not an impossible one. The response to the asking is problematical if one thinks that idols are the subject. Idols could not be definition return anything like 'a word'. Fortunately דבר as pestilence is to hand. A suitable response from some foreign powers.

Isaiah 41 Fn Min Max Syll
הַחֲרִ֤ישׁוּ אֵלַי֙ אִיִּ֔ים וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ כֹ֑חַ
יִגְּשׁוּ֙ אָ֣ז יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ יַחְדָּ֖ו לַמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט נִקְרָֽבָה
1 Be silent for me, coasts, and let tribes renew power.
Let them come close, then let them speak, and as one for lessons in judgment, let us come near.
3e 4C 17
15
מִ֤י הֵעִיר֙ מִמִּזְרָ֔ח צֶ֖דֶק יִקְרָאֵ֣הוּ לְרַגְל֑וֹ
יִתֵּ֨ן לְפָנָ֤יו גּוֹיִם֙ וּמְלָכִ֣ים יַ֔רְדְּ יִתֵּ֤ן כֶּֽעָפָר֙ חַרְבּ֔וֹ כְּקַ֥שׁ נִדָּ֖ף קַשְׁתּֽוֹ
2 C Who roused righteousness from the sunrise, called him to his feet,
gave, in his presence, nations, and made him rule sovereigns? His sword gives like dust, his bow blows as stubble.
3e 4C 15
25
יִרְדְּפֵ֖ם יַעֲב֣וֹר שָׁל֑וֹם
אֹ֥רַח בְּרַגְלָ֖יו לֹ֥א יָבֽוֹא
3 He pursued them, passing through whole.
No path by his feet was entered.
3e 4B 8
8
מִֽי־פָעַ֣ל וְעָשָׂ֔ה קֹרֵ֥א הַדֹּר֖וֹת מֵרֹ֑אשׁ
אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ רִאשׁ֔וֹן וְאֶת־אַחֲרֹנִ֖ים אֲנִי־הֽוּא
4 Who works and will do the calling of the generations from the beginning?
I am Yahweh, first, and with those who follow after. I am he.
3e 4C 12
14
רָא֤וּ אִיִּים֙ וְיִירָ֔אוּ קְצ֥וֹת הָאָ֖רֶץ יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ
קָרְב֖וּ וַיֶּאֱתָיֽוּן
5 Coasts see and will fear, the extremes of the earth are apprehensive,
come near, and arrive.
3e 4C 17
7
אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֖הוּ יַעְזֹ֑רוּ
וּלְאָחִ֖יו יֹאמַ֥ר חֲזָֽק
6 f Each helped its associate,
and to its kin said, Be encouraged.
3e 4A 8
7
וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק חָרָשׁ֙ אֶת־צֹרֵ֔ף מַחֲלִ֥יק פַּטִּ֖ישׁ אֶת־ה֣וֹלֶם פָּ֑עַם
אֹמֵ֤ר לַדֶּ֙בֶק֙ ט֣וֹב ה֔וּא וַיְחַזְּקֵ֥הוּ בְמַסְמְרִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט
7 So a smith encouraged a refiner, and one who smooths with a forge-hammer, one who smites an anvil,
saying, It is good for the soldering. And he resolved it with nails. It will not be moved.
3e 4C 18
18
וְאַתָּה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עַבְדִּ֔י יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּחַרְתִּ֑יךָ
זֶ֖רַע אַבְרָהָ֥ם אֹהֲבִֽי
8 And you Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,
seed of Abraham whom I loved,
3e 4B 17
8
אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶחֱזַקְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִקְצ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ וּמֵאֲצִילֶ֖יהָ קְרָאתִ֑יךָ
וָאֹ֤מַר לְךָ֙ עַבְדִּי־אַ֔תָּה בְּחַרְתִּ֖יךָ וְלֹ֥א מְאַסְתִּֽיךָ
9 Whom I encouraged from the ends of the earth and from her elect I called you,
and I said to you, My servant you are. I have chosen you and not refused you.
3e 4C 22
18
אַל־תִּירָא֙ כִּ֣י עִמְּךָ־אָ֔נִי אַל־תִּשְׁתָּ֖ע כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ
אִמַּצְתִּ֙יךָ֙ אַף־עֲזַרְתִּ֔יךָ אַף־תְּמַכְתִּ֖יךָ בִּימִ֥ין צִדְקִֽי
10 Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not look away, for I am your God.
I will assure you, indeed I will help you, indeed I will maintain you with the right hand of my righteousness.
3e 4B 16
18
הֵ֤ן יֵבֹ֙שׁוּ֙ וְיִכָּ֣לְמ֔וּ כֹּ֖ל הַנֶּחֱרִ֣ים בָּ֑ךְ
יִֽהְי֥וּ כְאַ֛יִן וְיֹאבְד֖וּ אַנְשֵׁ֥י רִיבֶֽךָ
11 C Lo, let them be ashamed and humiliated, all those who burn against you.
They will be as nothing and those who contend with you will perish.
3d 4C 14
12
תְּבַקְשֵׁם֙ וְלֹ֣א תִמְצָאֵ֔ם אַנְשֵׁ֖י מַצֻּתֶ֑ךָ
יִהְי֥וּ כְאַ֛יִן וּכְאֶ֖פֶס אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ
12 You will seek and not find those who struggle with you.
They will be as nothing, and as a termination, those who are at war with you.
3d 4B 14
13
כִּ֗י אֲנִ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מַחֲזִ֣יק יְמִינֶ֑ךָ
הָאֹמֵ֥ר לְךָ֛ אַל־תִּירָ֖א אֲנִ֥י עֲזַרְתִּֽיךָ
13 ~ For I am Yahweh your God who holds resolute your right hand,
saying to you, Do not fear. I myself will help you.
3d 4B 16
14
אַל־תִּֽירְאִי֙ תּוֹלַ֣עַת יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב מְתֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
אֲנִ֤י עֲזַרְתִּיךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
14 Have no fear, worm Jacob, men of Israel.
I myself will help you, an oracle of Yahweh, and your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
3e 4C 14
17
הִנֵּ֣ה שַׂמְתִּ֗יךְ לְמוֹרַג֙ חָר֣וּץ חָדָ֔שׁ בַּ֖עַל פִּֽיפִיּ֑וֹת
תָּד֤וּשׁ הָרִים֙ וְתָדֹ֔ק וּגְבָע֖וֹת כַּמֹּ֥ץ תָּשִֽׂים
15 Behold I will set you as a sharp new threshing instrument, the owner of edges.
You will pound the hills and finely grind, and the hillocks like chaff you will set.
3e 4C 16
14
תִּזְרֵם֙ וְר֣וּחַ תִּשָּׂאֵ֔ם וּסְעָרָ֖ה תָּפִ֣יץ אוֹתָ֑ם
וְאַתָּה֙ תָּגִ֣יל בַּֽיהוָ֔ה בִּקְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תִּתְהַלָּֽל
16 You will winnow them, and wind will bear them away, and tempest will disperse them.
And you will rejoice in Yahweh. In the Holy One of Israel you will boast.
3e 4B 15
15
הָעֲנִיִּ֨ים וְהָאֶבְיוֹנִ֜ים מְבַקְשִׁ֥ים מַ֙יִם֙ וָאַ֔יִן לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם בַּצָּמָ֣א נָשָׁ֑תָּה
אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶעֱנֵ֔ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א אֶעֶזְבֵֽם
17 The poor and the needy seek water, and there is none, their tongues desiccated of thirst.
I Yahweh will answer them. The God of Israel will not forsake them.
3e 4C 24
17
אֶפְתַּ֤ח עַל־שְׁפָיִים֙ נְהָר֔וֹת וּבְת֥וֹךְ בְּקָע֖וֹת מַעְיָנ֑וֹת
אָשִׂ֤ים מִדְבָּר֙ לַאֲגַם־מַ֔יִם וְאֶ֥רֶץ צִיָּ֖ה לְמוֹצָ֥אֵי מָֽיִם
18 I will open rivers over protruding places and among crevasses, springs.
I will set up wilderness as a pool of water, and an arid land, emerging water.
3e 4C 17
19
אֶתֵּ֤ן בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ אֶ֣רֶז שִׁטָּ֔ה וַהֲדַ֖ס וְעֵ֣ץ שָׁ֑מֶן
אָשִׂ֣ים בָּעֲרָבָ֗ה בְּר֛וֹשׁ תִּדְהָ֥ר וּתְאַשּׁ֖וּר יַחְדָּֽו
19 I will give in the wilderness, cedar, acacia, and myrtle and oil tree.
I will set up in the steppe, fir tree, pine, and boxwood together.
3d 4C 16
15
לְמַ֧עַן יִרְא֣וּ וְיֵדְע֗וּ וְיָשִׂ֤ימוּ וְיַשְׂכִּ֙ילוּ֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו כִּ֥י יַד־יְהוָ֖ה עָ֣שְׂתָה זֹּ֑את
וּקְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּרָאָֽהּ
20 So that they may see and know and set out and have insight together that the hand of Yahweh has done this,
and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
3c 4C 25
8
קָרְב֥וּ רִֽיבְכֶ֖ם יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה
הַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ עֲצֻמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם יֹאמַ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ יַעֲקֹֽב
21 Approach with your dispute, says Yahweh.
Make overture with your sheer numbers, says the sovereign of Jacob.
3e 4B 8
15
יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔נוּ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה
הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת ׀ מָ֣ה הֵ֗נָּה הַגִּ֜ידוּ וְנָשִׂ֤ימָה לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙ וְנֵדְעָ֣ה אַחֲרִיתָ֔ן א֥וֹ הַבָּא֖וֹת הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ
22 Let them make overture and tell us what will transpire,
the former things, what they make evident, and we will set our heart so we may know their aftermath, or broadcast what is to come.
3e 4C 15
32
הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת לְאָח֔וֹר וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה כִּ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם
אַף־תֵּיטִ֣יבוּ וְתָרֵ֔עוּ וְנִשְׁתָּ֖עָה וְנִרְאֶ֥ה יַחְדָּֽו
23 Make evident what is to arrive afterwards, so we may know that you are God.
Indeed, do good or do evil, that we may cry for help, and see it together.
3e 4B 19
17
הֵן־אַתֶּ֣ם מֵאַ֔יִן וּפָעָלְכֶ֖ם מֵאָ֑פַע
תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה יִבְחַ֥ר בָּכֶֽם
24 Lo, you are from nothing and your works puffed up.
An abomination it is, to choose you.
3e 4B 12
7
הַעִיר֤וֹתִי מִצָּפוֹן֙ וַיַּ֔את מִמִּזְרַח־שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ יִקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֑י
וְיָבֹ֤א סְגָנִים֙ כְּמוֹ־חֹ֔מֶר וּכְמ֥וֹ יוֹצֵ֖ר יִרְמָס־טִֽיט
25 I have roused from the north, and he will arrive from the rising of the sun. He will call in my name.
And he will conduct prefects like mortar, and as one who fashions by trampling muck.
3e 4C 18
16
מִֽי־הִגִּ֤יד מֵרֹאשׁ֙ וְנֵדָ֔עָה וּמִלְּפָנִ֖ים וְנֹאמַ֣ר צַדִּ֑יק
אַ֣ף אֵין־מַגִּ֗יד אַ֚ף אֵ֣ין מַשְׁמִ֔יעַ אַ֥ף אֵין־שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵיכֶֽם
26 Who made it clear from the beginning that we may know? And from before, and we said, The righteous one?
Ha! There is none making clear. Ha! There is none broadcasting. Ha! There is none to hear your sayings.
3e 4C 17
17
רִאשׁ֥וֹן לְצִיּ֖וֹן הִנֵּ֣ה הִנָּ֑ם
וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר אֶתֵּֽן
27 First to Zion, behold these.
And to Jerusalem, I will give one to bring good news.
3e 4B 9
10
וְאֵ֙רֶא֙ וְאֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֵ֣ין יוֹעֵ֑ץ
וְאֶשְׁאָלֵ֖ם וְיָשִׁ֥יבוּ דָבָֽר
28 And I saw that there was no person from them, and there was no counselor.
If I asked them, they returned pestilence.
3e 4B 14
10
הֵ֣ן כֻּלָּ֔ם אָ֥וֶן אֶ֖פֶס מַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם
ר֥וּחַ וָתֹ֖הוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶֽם
29 B Lo, all of them are mischief. Terminated are their deeds.
A wind that is formless, their molten images.
3e 4B 11
8


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