One striking feature of this Woe Oracle is the repetition of the Hebrew roots shdd (“destroy”) and bgd (“deal treacherously”). They are used four times each in this verse. There is also a close parallelism in each half of the verse and between the two halves of the verse.

Woe to you, destroyer: For Woe see the comments on 28.1. The oppressors of God’s people are referred to as a destroyer (see 16.4; 21.2). This pictures an enemy who is bent on destroying others. It could be Babylonia or Assyria. In some languages it will be necessary to add an object to the verb “destroy.” If so, you, destroyer may be rendered “you who destroyed others” or “you who brought devastation on others.” The pronoun you (singular) is not in the Hebrew text, but it can be implied from the next line. Good News Translation changes the direct address to the oppressors to third person, beginning with “Our enemies,” but it is better to keep the second person.

Who yourself have not been destroyed: The nation oppressing God’s people is so powerful that it has never been destroyed by others. Some languages may need to express the passive verb here in an active form; for example, this line may be rendered “whom others [or, other enemies/nations] have never destroyed.”

You treacherous one is parallel to destroyer and refers to the same group of people. It describes them as deceitful and dishonest in dealing with others, betraying them. They use dishonest ways to bring ruin on others. For more comments on the Hebrew word rendered treacherous one, see 21.2, where it is translated “plunderer.”

With whom none has dealt treacherously means that the group has never been treated with dishonesty by others. This line is parallel with the second one.

When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed: The oppressors themselves will be destroyed after they finish destroying others. For languages that need to express the passive verb will be destroyed in an active form, see the second example below.

And when you have made an end of dealing treacherously, you will be dealt with treacherously is parallel to the previous two lines. The oppressors will also be betrayed after they finish betraying others. For languages that need to render the passive verb will be dealt with treacherously in an active form, see the second example below.

According to the Old Testament, there must be justice in proportion to the wrong done. So just as these vicious enemies of God’s people destroyed and betrayed others, they will be treated in the same way. Good News Translation use the connector “But” to link the second half of this verse with the first half. This may be helpful for other languages to express the concessive relationship here.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Alas, you who destroy others though you yourself have not been destroyed,
you who deceive others but have not been deceived yourself.
When you have finished destroying others, you will be destroyed;
when you have finished deceiving others, you will be deceived.

• Woe to you who bring ruin upon others though others have not brought ruin upon you,
you who deceive others though others have not deceived you.
When you no longer bring ruin upon others, Yahweh [or, an enemy] will bring ruin upon you;
when you no longer deceive others, he [or, the enemy] will deceive you.

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 .