Isaiah 55:8-11
New English Translation
8 “Indeed,[a] my plans[b] are not like[c] your plans,
and my deeds[d] are not like[e] your deeds,” says the Lord,
9 “for just as the sky[f] is higher than the earth,
so my deeds[g] are superior to[h] your deeds
and my plans[i] superior to your plans.
10 [j] The rain and snow fall from the sky
and do not return,
but instead water the earth
and make it produce and yield crops,
and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.
11 In the same way, the promise that I make
does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.[k]
No, it is realized as I desire
and is fulfilled as I intend.”[l]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:8 tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Heb “are higher than.”
- Isaiah 55:9 tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
- Isaiah 55:10 tn This verse begins in the Hebrew text with כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר (ki kaʾasher, “for, just as”), which is completed by כֵּן (ken, “so, in the same way”) at the beginning of v. 11. For stylistic reasons, this lengthy sentence is divided up into separate sentences in the translation.
- Isaiah 55:11 tn Heb “so is the word which goes out from my mouth, it does not return to me empty.” “Word” refers here to divine promises, like the ones made just prior to and after this (see vv. 7b, 12-13).
- Isaiah 55:11 tn Heb “but it accomplishes what I desire, and succeeds in what I commission it with.”sn Verses 8-11 focus on the reliability of the divine word and support the promises before (vv. 3-5, 7b) and after (vv. 12-13) this. Israel can be certain that repentance will bring forgiveness and a new covenantal relationship because God’s promises are reliable. In contrast to human plans (or “thoughts”), which are destined to fail (Ps 94:11) apart from divine approval (Prov 19:21), and human deeds (or “ways”), which are evil and lead to destruction (Prov 1:15-19; 3:31-33; 4:19), God’s plans are realized, and his deeds accomplish something positive.
Deuteronomy 32:1-4
New English Translation
Invocation of Witnesses
32 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak;
hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 My teaching will drop like the rain,
my sayings will drip like the dew,[a]
as rain drops upon the grass,
and showers upon new growth.
3 For I will proclaim the name[b] of the Lord;
you must acknowledge the greatness of our God.
4 As for the Rock,[c] his work is perfect,
for all his ways are just.
He is a reliable God who is never unjust,
he is fair[d] and upright.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 32:2 tn Or “mist,” “light drizzle.” In some contexts the term appears to refer to light rain, rather than dew.
- Deuteronomy 32:3 tc Smr and Tg read “in the name.”
- Deuteronomy 32:4 tc The LXX reads Θεός (theos, “God”) for the MT’s “Rock.”sn The Hebrew term depicts God as a rocky summit where one may find safety and protection. Within a covenantal context it serves as a reminder to the people that their God has committed himself to their protection in return for their allegiance.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 tn Or “just” (KJV, NAB, NRSV, NLT) or “righteous” (NASB).
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