For our transgressions are multiplied before thee: The Hebrew particle ki rendered For is probably a logical connector. The people openly admit that they have sinned greatly against God and that this is the reason for their current problems. Good News Translation and Revised English Bible understand this particle to be an emphatic marker here, meaning “Indeed,” so they leave it implied. The Hebrew word rendered transgressions refers to deliberate or willful disobedience (see the comments on 43.25). Our transgressions are multiplied can mean they sinned many times or they sinned in many different ways. Revised English Bible says “Our transgressions … are many” (similarly Good News Translation). Bible en français courant translates “very often … we disobeyed” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Before thee is literally “in front of you,” so New International Version has “in your sight.” It may be rendered “against you” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). Good News Translation begins this verse with the vocative “LORD” to make clear he is the referent for the pronoun thee.

And our sins testify against us means their sins provide the testimony that condemns them. For sins see the comments on Isa 59.2. The Hebrew verb rendered testify has the basic sense of “answer,” but in this context it denotes the response by a witness when called to give evidence against a person. Good News Translation expresses this line concisely with “Our sins accuse us.” In some languages it may be difficult for sins to be the subject of an active verb like testify. If so, translators may say “our sins are what condemn us.”

For our transgressions are with us essentially repeats the first line. This time the people say they are fully aware of their sinfulness and cannot deny it or hide from it. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for is probably a logical connector here also.

And we know our iniquities is parallel to the previous line. Once again the people admit that they are conscious of what they have done wrong. For iniquities see Isa 59.3

Good News Translation combines the last two lines of this verse, saying “We are well aware of them all.” Bible en français courant keeps both lines by translating “our acts of rebellion stick to us, we know well enough what our wrongdoings are.” Both Revised Standard Version and Bible en français courant close this verse with a colon to indicate that the next verse gives details concerning the sins of the people.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• This is so because of our many transgressions against you,
[and because] our sins give witness against us.
Our transgressions are ever present with us,
and we know all about our iniquities.

• For our transgressions against you are many,
and our sins are what condemn us;
for our transgressions are constantly before us,
and we are aware of our iniquities.

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 .