And yet he is wise refers to Yahweh. This statement is full of irony. Yahweh’s people do not rely on him even though he has great political wisdom and knows what the best course of action is. In Hebrew this clause begins with a particle that is often rendered “also.” Here it could introduce two things that are true about Yahweh, so the first line may be rendered “He is wise and also brings disaster.” But most translations see the particle as expressing contrast with the previous verse, as in Revised Standard Version; for example, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this clause and the previous line as follows: “1 … You [plural] do not ask the LORD whether he agrees. 2 You think you are acting cleverly, but he too is wise in what he does.” Good News Translation expresses the meaning of this clause in the context with “He knows what he is doing.”

And brings disaster indicates that trouble and calamity come from God. He both blesses and punishes. There is blessing for obedience, and punishment for disobedience (see, for example, Amos 3.6). The prophet reminds the people of Judah that there will be terrible consequences if they ignore Yahweh’s warning not to seek help from Egypt. New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible soften the statement somewhat by saying “and can bring disaster” (similarly Revised English Bible).

He does not call back his words means that Yahweh will accomplish what he says he will do. This line is literally “and he does not turn away from his words.” It emphasizes that Yahweh will not take back his threats. Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and Bible en français courant render his words as “his threats.” This line may be rendered “he does not revoke what he has threatened to do.”

But will arise against the house of the evildoers details Yahweh’s immovable threat. As in 14.22, arise against refers to punishing people. The house of the evildoers is a figure of speech referring to “evil people” (Good News Translation; similarly Revised English Bible “wrongdoers”), not the building in which they live (compare “the house of Israel” in 5.7). This line states the general principle that Yahweh will always be opposed to those who do evil, but here its implied target is those in Judah who seek an alliance with Egypt.

And against the helpers of those who work iniquity: This line is parallel to the previous one. It also gives a general principle, but since those who work iniquity is synonymous with the house of the evildoers, their helpers imply the Egyptians here. Like Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible uses the idea of “protect” for helpers, but these people are actually helping those who do wrong rather than just protecting them. For iniquity see the comments on 1.13.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• But Yahweh is wise and one who brings disaster;
he will not go back on his word,
but will act against those who do evil,
and against those who help the wicked.

• But Yahweh is wise;
he brings disaster and does not turn back from his threats,
but will deal with any who do evil,
and with those who assist those who are wicked.

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 .