2tnHeb “for near is my deliverance to enter, and my vindication [or “righteousness”] to be revealed.”
3tnHeb “blessed is the man who does this.”
4tnHeb “the son of mankind who takes hold of it.”
5tnHeb and who keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
6tnHeb “who attaches himself to.”
7tn The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
8tnHeb “and take hold of” (so KJV); NASB “hold fast.”
9tnHeb “a hand and a name.” For other examples where יָד (yad) refers to a monument, see HALOT 388 s.v.
10tnHeb “name” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV).
11tnHeb “who attach themselves to.”
12tnHeb “and take hold of”; NAB “hold to”; NIV, NRSV “hold fast.”
13tnHeb “in the house of my prayer.”
14tnHeb “for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”
15tn The meaning of the statement is unclear. The text reads literally, “Still I will gather upon him to his gathered ones.” Perhaps the preposition -לְ (lamed) before “gathered ones” introduces the object of the verb, as in Jer 49:5. The third masculine singular suffix on both עָלָיו (’alayv) and נִקְבָּצָיו (niqbatsayv) probably refers to “Israel.” In this case one can translate literally, “Still I will gather to him his gathered ones.”
16sn The “watchmen” are probably spiritual leaders, most likely prophets and priests, responsible for giving the people moral direction.
17tnHeb “they do not know”; KJV “they are all ignorant”; NIV “they all lack knowledge.”
18tn The Hebrew text has הֹזִים (hozim), which appears to be derived from an otherwise unattested verbal root הָזָה (hazah). On the basis of alleged cognates, BDB 223 s.v. הָזָה offers the definition “dream, rave” while HALOT 243 s.v. הזה lists “pant.” In this case the dog metaphor of the preceding lines continues. The reference to dogs at the beginning of v. 11 favors the extension of the metaphor. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has חזים (“seers”) here. In this case the “watchmen” are directly identified as prophets and depicted as lazy.
19sn The phrase never full alludes to the greed of the leaders.
20tnHeb “for his gain from his end.”
21tn The words “each one says” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
22tnHeb “great, [in] abundance, very much,” i.e., “very great indeed.” See HALOT 452 s.v. יֶתֶר.