In this verse the specific sin God tells the prophet to denounce is his people’s religious activity! They are strict in observing their religious duties, but they fail to see that it is done only in a formal way and that they overlook the need to be compassionate and just.
Yet they seek me daily is literally “And me day [by] day they seek.” The normal Hebrew syntax is reversed to place emphasis on the object me—it is God they seek. The common Hebrew conjunction rendered Yet introduces a contrast with the previous verse. The literal phrase “day [by] day” means “constantly.” The Hebrew verb rendered seek refers to “worship” in this context (compare 9.13; 55.6). Yahweh is noting the people’s strict observance of daily religious rituals. For this line Good News Translation has “They worship me every day.” Some versions interpret seek in a wider sense; for example, Bible en français courant has “Day after day, turned toward me,” and Revised English Bible says “although they ask guidance of me day after day.”
And delight to know my ways: This clause has the same structure as the previous one, with the object coming before the verb. It is literally “and knowledge of my ways they delight in.” The people appear to be eager to know what Yahweh wants of them. My ways refers to a lifestyle that follows God’s requirements (compare 55.8-9). The Hebrew root for delight is a key term in this section. It occurs twice as a verb in this verse and once as a noun rendered “pleasure” in verse 3. It reoccurs twice as a noun in verse 13. The Hebrew verb rendered delight describes taking pleasure in something. Here it refers to the people eagerly trying to understand what God wants of them. However, there is irony in this line, since this is not really true. Revised English Bible indicates the irony by translating “and [they] say they delight in knowing my ways.” New International Version is similar with “they seem eager to know my ways,” and so is Good News Translation with “claiming that they are eager to know my ways.” Bible en français courant says simply “they wish to know what I expect from them.”
As if they were a nation that did righteousness: This line shows that the people’s religious activity merely resembles that of those who do what is required. It is as if they were serious about their religion. This expression implies that they do not understand or accept that they need to live out their religious commitment in other aspects of daily life, so they fail to please God. Bible en français courant conveys the sense of as if by saying “One would have thought.” Good News Translation uses the verb “claiming” in the previous line to express it. The Hebrew phrase rendered did righteousness is an idiomatic way of describing those who lived a righteous life. For righteousness see the comments on 1.21. New International Version renders did righteousness as “does what is right.” Revised English Bible is similar with “had acted rightly.”
And did not forsake the ordinance of their God is a second area in which the people outwardly appear as though they were serious about their religion. However, they actually failed to live out the ordinance of their God. The Hebrew noun rendered ordinance refers to the compassionate justice that God requires (see the comments on 1.17, where the same word is translated “justice”). The people do not live in a manner that reflects God’s compassion and justice. Revised English Bible renders this line as “and had not abandoned the just laws of their God” (similarly New International Version).
They ask of me righteous judgments means the people expect that God will give just decisions when they ask for them. However, they are not sincere when making these requests. Righteous judgments are decisions made on the basis of God’s laws. For this line New International Version has “They ask me for just decisions.” Another possible model is “They say they want me to provide them with judgments that are fair” (similarly Good News Translation).
They delight to draw near to God is literally “they delight in the approach of God.” For RSV/NRSV and Revised English Bible this means the people like to approach God for worship, that is, come to the Temple. Revised English Bible translates “and [they] delight in approaching God.” Good News Translation is similar with “and that they take pleasure in worshiping me.” But for other versions this line means the people want God to approach them; for example, New International Version says “and seem eager for God to come near them,” and Bible en français courant has “and they desire my presence.” Both understandings of this line are valid.
The prophet is quoting God throughout this verse, but there are both first person and third person references to God (me, my, God). It is not unusual for the prophet to switch between first and third person for God. Translators may change the third person references here to first person for naturalness (so Good News Translation).
Translation examples for this verse are:
• But it is I whom they worship every day,
delighting to understand my ways,
just as though they were like those who lived a righteous life,
who did not abandon the compassionate justice their God required.
They ask for just legal decisions,
and delight to come to worship.”
• But I am the one they worship daily,
happily they seek to know my ways,
just as if they were a people living a righteous life,
not abandoning the compassion for justice that I demand.
They want me to give them just judgments,
and they happily come to worship.”
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 .