Verses 6-8 add further information about the fool, the knave and the noble person. Each verse opens with a special Hebrew rhetorical form, namely, a repeated root: verse 6 opens with nabal nebalah (“fool [speaks] folly”), verse 7 with kelay kelayw (“knaveries of the knave” [are evil]), and verse 8 with nadiv nedivoth (“noble [devises] noble things”).
In verse 6 six different features characterize the fool. Two show a depraved mind (speaking and planning evil things); two show an opposition to Yahweh (in actions and words); and two show cruelty to those in need (refusing the hungry food and the thirsty something to drink). According to the Hebrew syntax of this verse, the last four characteristics are the purpose of the first two. The fool speaks and plots evil things to oppose Yahweh and to refuse help for those in need.
The Hebrew particle ki rendered For does not function as a logical connector here. Rather, it serves as an emphatic marker that introduces more information about the fool, the knave, and the noble person in verses 6-8. It is better rendered “Now” or “Indeed.” Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch omit it.
The fool speaks folly, and his mind plots iniquity: These two lines are parallel. The Hebrew noun for folly comes from the same Hebrew root as the word for fool. If possible, translators should bring out this relationship. Folly has the sense of “evil,” as in 9.17. It is parallel with iniquity (see 1.13). And his mind plots iniquity is literally “and his heart does evil.” New English Bible emends the Hebrew text to read “and will hatch evil in his heart” (similarly Revised English Bible). However, we agree with Hebrew Old Testament Text Project that it is unnecessary to emend the text here. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends “and his heart is occupied with evil,” which refers to the planning of evil. New International Version is similar with “his mind is busy with evil.” Bible en français courant says “They think of the evil they are going to do” (similarly Good News Translation).
To practice ungodliness: The Hebrew word rendered ungodliness can also mean “hypocrisy” or “corruption.” In this context it refers to a kind of rebellion against God. See the comments at 9.17 on “godless,” which translates the same Hebrew root. For this line Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “His actions are shameful,” and Bible en français courant says “they act as villains.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh keeps the religious tone by saying “To act impiously.” Good News Translation render this line and the next one well with “What he does and what he says are an insult to the LORD.”
To utter error concerning the LORD: A fool speaks about Yahweh in ways that are untrue or misleading. The Hebrew noun rendered error comes from a root meaning “to go astray / to err.” For this line Contemporary English Version suggests “to lie about the LORD.”
To leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied: The fool also does not give food to those who are hungry. This line is literally “to leave empty the life of a hungry [person].” The Hebrew word for “life” (nephesh) can refer to the “throat,” the part of the body used when eating or breathing. It can also refer to the part of the body where longings originate, so Revised Standard Version has craving. Translators may follow Revised Standard Version here or use a word such as “stomach.” For this line it may be best to say simply “they do not give food to the hungry.”
Another thing the fool does is to deprive the thirsty of drink. To deprive is literally “to cause a lack.” This line may be rendered “they do not give the thirsty anything to drink.”
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples
• Now, the fool is one who speaks foolishly,
whose mind works evil,
to practice hypocrisy,
to say misleading things against Yahweh,
to refuse food to the hungry,
and to deny anything to drink to the thirsty.
• Indeed, fools are those who speak foolishly,
whose hearts are bent on doing evil,
to do what is ungodly,
to speak wrong of Yahweh,
to deny the needs of the hungry,
and to refuse anything to drink to the thirsty.
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 .