The people in Jerusalem who are bound to sin challenge Yahweh here. Verse 12 indicated that they are unable to see and acknowledge Yahweh’s deeds. Despite their blindness they now demand to see what he is about to do. Presumably they are referring to the threat of exile and destruction. They want to see evidence of it. They arrogantly think that God will not act against them.

Who say continues the Woe Oracle. These are the same people as those mentioned in verse 18, so another way to express this is “These people say.” Since the verb say is used very generally in Hebrew, this may be rendered in a way that shows it is really an arrogant call to Yahweh, for example, “who challenge Yahweh and say.”

Let him make haste: The pronoun him refers to God, and this may be clarified already here rather than wait for the explicit reference later in the verse. Good News Translation says “LORD,” which is its rendering for the personal name of God. However, since this challenge is made by the wicked, who may be worshipers of Canaanite gods, it may be better not to use the personal name of God here. The sinners challenge him “to hurry up and do something.” There is an arrogant tone about this challenge. Revised Standard Version reflects this arrogance through the use of taunting language, while New Jerusalem Bible expresses it with rhetorical questions, saying “Why doesn’t he do his work quickly … why doesn’t the Holy One…?” Translators may use either approach.

Let him speed his work is parallel to the previous clause. The object his work serves both clauses. The noun work was used in verse 12. This link is important since it highlights the people’s blindness and arrogance. The word work here may have a narrower meaning than in verse 12. It may refer to the people going into exile, though other problems are also mentioned in verses 13-14. However, translators may use the same word for work in both verses.

That we may see it: In contrast to verse 12, the sinners demand evidence of what Yahweh will do. Despite their blindness to God’s deeds they nevertheless demand to see them! They foolishly believe that Yahweh will not act. It is a kind of irony where the speakers state the opposite of what they actually believe will happen.

Let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near: The challenge to God continues. The second half of this verse is parallel to the first half. The Hebrew noun translated purpose is actually the word for “advice” or “counsel.” However, here it seems to carry the sense of purpose or “plan” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Bible). New Jerusalem Bible has “design,” a purposeful plan. For the Holy One of Israel, see 1.4. Draw near means “be fulfilled soon” or “be carried out now.” For this line New Revised Standard Version has “let the plan of the Holy One of Israel hasten to fulfillment.”

And let it come, that we may know it: In Hebrew and let it come actually belongs with the previous clause. For reasons of English style Revised Standard Version has broken up the sentence. New International Version is closer to the original form by beginning the second half of this verse with “Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come….” These two verbs at the beginning of the sentence in Hebrew give greater emphasis to the challenge, and translators may find that this works in their languages also. A possible model is “Let it come, let it be fulfilled—that plan of the Holy One of Israel…!”

That we may know it directly parallels the earlier ironic taunt of that we may see. It is not necessarily a purpose clause but rather a result clause. It may be rendered “Then we will know!”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• [Woe to those] who say: “Let God hurry up, let him hasten
and show us what he will do;
let it happen, let it be fulfilled,
that plan of the Holy One of Israel.
Then we will know for sure!”

• [Woe to you] who challenge Yahweh and say:
“Why doesn’t he hurry up
and quickly show us what he will do?
Why doesn’t the Holy One of Israel come and fulfill his plan?
Then we will know what it’s all about!”

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 .