All who make idols are nothing: This bold statement recalls Gen 1–2. The Hebrew verb rendered make is used in Gen 2.7 for the creation of humans by God; there it is translated “formed.” In addition, the Hebrew word translated nothing occurs in Gen 1.2, where it is rendered “without form” (see the comments on 24.10). For are nothing, Good News Translation has “are worthless,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh suggests “work to no purpose,” which emphasizes that the idol makers’ work is a waste of time. Other possible models are “count for nothing” and “are useless.” Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew word for idols as “image” in the next verse, which may be better in some languages (see the comments on this word at 40.19).

And the things they delight in do not profit means the images the idol makers regard highly do not provide them any benefit. For delight in, New International Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh have “treasure,” and Good News Translation says “prize so highly.” Other possible renderings are “regard so highly” and “respect so much.” Do not profit may be translated “are worthless” (New International Version) or “are useless” (Good News Translation).

Their witnesses neither see nor know: Their witnesses refers to those who witness on behalf of the idols. They are the people who worship them. In verse 8 Yahweh’s “witnesses” could confirm that there was no other God than Yahweh. The witnesses here make the same claim of uniqueness about their idols. However, they neither see nor know, so they cannot witness adequately. The blindness here is a figure for ignorance. The verbs see and know occur together again in verse 18. Some languages may need to supply an object for these verbs, such as “anything.” For this whole line Good News Translation has “Those who worship these gods are blind and ignorant” (similarly Revised English Bible), which is acceptable. Another possible model is “Their witnesses see nothing and know nothing.”

That they may be put to shame: The ignorance of the worshipers results in their shame. New Revised Standard Version expresses this clearly by rendering the whole line as “And so they will be put to shame” (similarly Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For languages that prefer an active verb here, another possible rendering is “so they will look like fools.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The makers of images count for nothing, and what they value is of no benefit. Those who give witness [for the images] are blind and know nothing, so they will look utterly foolish.

• Those who fashion images are wasting their time, and what they regard so highly is useless. The images’ witnesses can see nothing and know nothing. Thus they are utterly foolish.

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 .