The lament concludes with two rhetorical questions. The use of these questions is an important structural and literary device. Although on the surface they express the fear that God will abandon his people, the questions contain a note of hope and trust. Through them the people express the hope that God will answer and say, “Of course, I won’t stand by and see you suffer more!” If rhetorical questions are not favored in the receptor language, translators can use emphatic statements, for example: “Surely you won’t refrain from…! Surely you won’t keep silent…!” (see also the third example below).
Wilt thou restrain thyself at these things, O LORD?: This question asks God whether he will refuse to act, whether he will hold back from helping the people in the dire situation they face. As noted in the introduction to 63.15—64.12, the Hebrew verb for restrain is the same one rendered “withheld” in 63.15, so it forms an inclusio (see the comments on 42.14). These things refers back to the current devastation of the land of Judah that was described in verses 10-11. For this question Good News Translation has “LORD, are you unmoved by all this?” and Bible en français courant says “Lord, can you remain indifferent before these ruins?”
Wilt thou keep silent, and afflict us sorely? is parallel to the previous question. This question asks God whether he will refuse to help the people and cause them to suffer even more. For God to keep silent means he will refuse to respond to the people’s plea (compare Psa 28.1). The Hebrew verb rendered keep silent is a figurative expression here for not responding rather than for not speaking or not saying anything (see the comments on 42.14, where this same verb is translated “held … peace”). Good News Translation expresses the first half of this question bluntly by saying “Are you going to do nothing…?”
And afflict us sorely implies that if God fails to respond then the people’s troubles will continue. If that were the case, then God would appear to be adding to their troubles. For afflict see 53.4. Sorely renders the same Hebrew phrase translated “exceedingly” in verse 9 (see the comments there). Here it has the sense of degree (“too much”). Good News Translation renders this clause as “and make us suffer more than we can endure,” while Revised English Bible and New International Version have “and punish us beyond measure.”
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• Will you remain indifferent to our situation, LORD?
Will you refuse to help and make us suffer more?
• LORD, will you hold back from helping when you know our situation?
Will you refuse to respond and leave us in our deep suffering? [Surely not!]
• LORD, surely you won’t refuse to help us in this situation!
Surely you are going to do something and stop troubling us so much!
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 .