Here Yahweh challenges his people to defend themselves in court.

Put me in remembrance is literally “Remind me.” New Revised Standard Version says “Accuse me” since the form of the Hebrew verb here reflects the language of the law courts. The rest of the verse implies a court setting, so New Revised Standard Version‘s rendering fits well. Bible en français courant is similar with “Remind me of what you accuse me of.” Good News Translation has a rather free rendering with “Let us go to court.” A better model is “State what case you have against me.”

Let us argue together is one possible meaning of the Hebrew clause here. Another possible sense is “let us judge it together” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). Translators may choose either meaning. Good News Translation is again rather free with “bring your accusation!”

Set forth your case, that you may be proved right: Yahweh tells the Israelites to present their case and prove they are right. Set forth your case is literally “you tell.” Revised Standard Version has added the implied idea of your case. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh adds “your version [of the case].” What is the case that God invites his people to bring? It is probably their complaint in 40.27 that he has abandoned them and not treated them justly (see the comments there). God gives his answer in the next chapter.

That you may be proved right is ironical since God will prove later they are wrong. The Hebrew verb rendered be proved right comes from a root meaning “to be just.” God is encouraging his people to present a convincing argument. This verb may be translated “be vindicated.” For the last line Bible en français courant is concise with “list the facts that prove you right.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Remind me of your accusation against me.
Let’s decide this matter together.
Tell me the issue you have,
so that you may be vindicated [or, proved right].

• Remind me of the case you have against me.
Let’s talk about this together.
Tell me about it,
so that you may be justified.

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 .