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18 They do not comprehend or understand,
for their eyes are blind and cannot see;
their minds do not discern.[a]
19 No one thinks to himself,
nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves:
‘I burned half of it in the fire—
yes, I baked bread over the coals;
I roasted meat and ate it.
With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol?
Should I bow down to dry wood?’[b]
20 He feeds on ashes;[c]
his deceived mind misleads him.
He cannot rescue himself,
nor does he say, ‘Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?’[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:18 tn Heb “for their eyes are smeared over so they cannot see, so their heart cannot be wise.”
  2. Isaiah 44:19 tn There is no formal interrogative sign here, but the context seems to indicate these are rhetorical questions. See GKC 473 §150.a.
  3. Isaiah 44:20 tn Or perhaps, “he eats on an ash heap.”
  4. Isaiah 44:20 tn Heb “Is it not a lie in my right hand?”

18 They know nothing, they understand(A) nothing;
    their eyes(B) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding(C) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(D)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(E) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(F)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(G) a deluded(H) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(I)

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