Therefore behold …: In this verse God gives his reaction to the insincere worship of his people. With the word behold he tells them to pay close attention to what he will do. Most versions leave this word implied (so Good News Translation).

I will again do marvelous things with this people, wonderful and marvelous: Do marvelous things, wonderful, and marvelous render the same Hebrew root. This repetition in such a short sentence makes the Hebrew text very emphatic. The Hebrew root here normally refers to extraordinary things God does for the benefit of his people. However, in this context of punishment, God uses it sarcastically. This sentence may be translated “I will continue to do marvels that will amaze and surprise these people.” Bible en français courant says “I will continue to surprise it by the wonders I will do.” Revised English Bible is more explicit with “I shall shock this people yet again, adding shock to shock,” which some languages may find helpful. Revised English Bible also keeps the repetition of the original text with the word “shock.” If such repetition is emphatic in a receptor language, translators should use it here.

And the wisdom of their wise men shall perish is the outcome of the shocking things Yahweh will do. The wise people in Judah will lose their wisdom. Although it is likely that the professional wise people were all male, there was wisdom at all levels of the society, so wise men may be rendered “wise people.” For wisdom see 11.2.

And the discernment of their discerning men shall be hid: The line is parallel and synonymous with the previous one. Those who are discerning will lose their ability to do so. For the Hebrew word rendered discernment, see 11.2, where it is translated “understanding” and occurs in a word pair with wisdom.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Therefore I will continue to amaze these people with amazing and extraordinary deeds;
wisdom will disappear from their wise people,
understanding will be hidden from those with understanding!”

• For that reason I will do more things that will shock and amaze these people;
their wise people will no longer be so wise,
their clever people will no longer be so clever!”

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 .