The dogs have a mighty appetite: The prophet continues to criticize Israel’s leaders as useless by referring to them as greedy and hungry dogs. This line is literally “And the dogs [are] strong of spirit.” Bible en français courant has “They are voracious dogs.” Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate simply “greedy dogs.” Good News Translation changes this metaphor into a simile by saying “They are like greedy dogs.” New American Bible says “They are relentless dogs,” which does not necessarily have anything to do with eating.

They never have enough is literally “they do not know satisfaction/fullness.” This line indicates that no matter how much they eat, it is never enough to satisfy them. This is probably a metaphor for general greediness, so this line may be rendered “they are never satisfied.”

The shepherds also have no understanding: Shepherds is another metaphor for Israel’s leaders. It is a common one in the Old Testament (see, for example, 44.28; Jer 12.10). The Hebrew phrase rendered have no understanding uses the same expression as “are … without knowledge” in the previous verse (see the introductory comments on this section [56.9-12]). It is also similar in meaning. As shepherds, Israel’s leaders are ignorant and know nothing about how to lead their people.

They have all turned to their own way is the reason for their ignorance. They each do whatever suits them without reference to anyone else, especially without reference to God. This charge is identical to the one against the whole nation in 53.6 (see the comments there). The self-centered life of the leaders prevents them taking care of their flock, as a true shepherd should.

Each to his own gain, one and all: All the leaders also look out for their own personal benefit. The Hebrew noun rendered gain implies the idea of obtaining material goods unjustly (see 33.15). One and all (literally “from its end”) renders a Hebrew idiom that means “with no exceptions.” It emphasizes that every single one of the leaders was interested only in serving himself rather than the people. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Every last one.” For this line and the previous one Good News Translation provides a useful model, saying “They each do as they please and seek their own advantage.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• The dogs are so greedy they can never get enough.
The shepherds [of the people] are all ignorant;
every one of them goes his own way,
without exception seeking his own benefit.

• Those greedy dogs are never satisfied.
Those leaders know nothing;
each does his own thing,
looking out for his own interest.
This is true of every one of them!

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 .