In this verse the prophet calls for repentance, so he may be speaking to the exiles who opposed the thought of returning home, or who questioned the message about Cyrus as God’s agent (45.9-13).

Let the wicked forsake his way: The prophet first calls on evil people to abandon their bad lifestyle. For the wicked, see the comments on 3.11. The wicked is singular in the Hebrew, but it has a collective sense here. It may be rendered as a plural, for example, “the wicked people.” If this is done, the pronouns referring back to them should be plural, as in Good News Translation. In English forsake is an archaic verb. It is better to say “abandon.” His way refers figuratively to the evil “way of life” (Good News Translation) of the wicked.

And the unrighteous man his thoughts is parallel to the previous line. The verb phrase let … forsake is implied here. For the unrighteous man (literally “man of iniquity”), see the comments on “iniquity” at 1.13. This is another singular expression in Hebrew that has a collective sense, referring to unjust and rebellious people. Good News Translation combines the wicked and the unrighteous man by saying simply “the wicked.” His thoughts points to their evil thoughts and plans. The prophet is not saying these bad people should stop thinking. Rather, they should abandon all thoughts and plans that involve doing unjust things. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “The sinful man his plans.”

Let him return to the LORD: The prophet tells the wicked people to turn back to Yahweh after they abandon their evil way of life. The pronoun him refers back to the evil people mentioned in the first two lines. The verb return implies repentance here (see the comments on 19.22).

That he may have mercy on him: Yahweh will be merciful and kind to those who turn back to him. They will experience his compassion. The pronoun he refers to the LORD. Translators should avoid any confusion that may arise if readers assume that this pronoun and the previous pronoun him refer to the same person. To avoid such confusion this clause and the previous one may be rendered “Let him return to the LORD, so that the LORD may have mercy on him.” For the Hebrew verb rendered have mercy, see the comments on 14.1, where it is translated “have compassion.”

And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon is parallel to the previous line. Let him return is implied before to our God. The prophet also tells the evil people to repent, because he will forgive them completely. He will abundantly pardon is literally “he will cause to be great/much to pardon.” New Jerusalem Bible says “he is rich in forgiveness.” The last two lines may be combined by saying “Let him return to the LORD our God, so that he [or, the LORD] may have mercy on him and pardon him completely” (similarly Good News Translation).

Translation examples for this verse are:

• May wicked people abandon their evil ways,
and may unjust people abandon their evil thoughts.
May they turn back to Yahweh, for he will be merciful to them;
may they turn back to our God, for he will have great compassion on them.

• You wicked ones, abandon your evil ways!
You unjust ones, abandon your evil thoughts!
Turn back to Yahweh! He will be kind to you.
Turn back to our God! He will give you a full pardon.

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 .