The prophet now addresses Pharaoh, as Good News Translation makes explicit. He challenges Pharaoh to consult his advisers and find out if they can discover what Yahweh will do to Egypt.

Where then are your wise men? is a rhetorical question. It makes a strong statement that the king’s counselors are of no value. Translators should convey the mocking tone in this question. If there is a risk that readers will take it as a real question, translators may change it into a strong statement; for example, the beginning of this verse may be rendered “Pharaoh, your wise men are useless. If they were really wise, let them tell you….”

Let them tell you and make known …: This double verbal expression is for emphasis. It implies that the counselors will not be able to do this. Instead of make known, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “let them discover” (that is, find out or know for themselves), which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports. The rendering make known is based on a different vocalization of the Hebrew in Masoretic Text. New Jerusalem Bible follows Masoretic Text by rendering this double expression as “Let them tell you, so that all may know….” De~Waard sees this as a good model to follow. Translators may choose either reading here. Good News Translation leaves make known implied, and hints at a mocking tone with “Perhaps they can tell you….”

What the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt: The Hebrew root behind the verb rendered has purposed is the same as the one for “counselors” in the previous verse. This root can mean “advice/counsel” or “purpose/pleasure,” so in these two verses the same root is used with its different nuances. Purposed means “planned” or “intended” here (see the comments on 14.24, 26) The preposition against conveys opposition and hints at punishment.

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• Now Pharaoh, where are your sages? Let them tell you and let them explain to you what Yahweh of hosts intends to do against Egypt!

• Now then, what of your sages! Can they discover and explain to you what Yahweh of hosts plans for Egypt? Of course not!

• What then of Egypt’s wise men! There is no way they can know and explain to you what Yahweh of hosts’ purpose is for Egypt!

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .