For the long sentence in this verse and the previous one, see the comments above.
I will destine you to the sword: This clause is an ironic play-on-words with the previous verse. The name of the god of destiny is Meni. I will destine you renders manithi in Hebrew. The implication is that Yahweh, not Meni, will determine the future of those who worship Meni. The future that he promises them is the sword, that is, “a violent death” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). The sword often stands for war (see, for example, 3.25), but here it is better understood as a metaphor for any kind of destruction.
And all of you shall bow down to the slaughter is parallel to the previous line. All those who are unfaithful to Yahweh will die. The Hebrew verb for bow down can mean to bow in adoration and worship, but here it means to submit to punishment. The Hebrew word for slaughter may imply death in battle, but here it refers to any kind of death. Bible en français courant renders this line as “You will fall on your knees to be massacred.” Good News Translation combines this line with the previous one, saying “It will be your fate to die a violent death.”
The last four lines of the verse explain why Yahweh’s disobedient people face this severe punishment. Although he had appealed directly to them, they did not listen, but continued to go their own evil way.
Because, when I called, you did not answer: God asked these people to obey him, but they refused to do so. The verb called implies an appeal to obedience and service, while the verb answer implies a positive response to the call, resulting in devotion to Yahweh. This metaphorical use of “calling” and “answering” occurs in many other places in the Old Testament (see, for example, 50.2; 66.4). Most of the versions consulted keep these metaphors, and it is likely that in most receptor languages this way of speaking will be understood correctly. The ideas of “calling” and “answering” help to bind this section with the next one, since they also occur in verse 24.
When I spoke, you did not listen is fully parallel in form and meaning with the previous line. The verb listen involves not just hearing but responding positively, so it may be rendered “obey.”
But you did what was evil in my eyes means the unfaithful people did what the LORD considered to be evil. In the Old Testament this statement usually refers to the worship of foreign gods as well as committing other sinful deeds (see, for example, Deut 4.25). It is often used to describe Israel’s kings (see, for example, 1 Kgs 15.34; 16.25).
And chose what I did not delight in is parallel to the previous line. The rebellious people deliberately did what displeased the LORD. Bible en français courant translates the last two lines of this verse as “You do precisely what I consider to be evil; what you have chosen is what displeases me!”
For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:
• I will destine you for a violent death,
all of you will be slaughtered;
because when addressed you, you refused to respond,
when I spoke to you, you refused to obey;
Instead, you did what I consider evil,
and you deliberately chose to do what displeases me.”
• I determine your destiny: to death by sword!
All of you will fall to those who slaughter,
because you refused to respond when I called you,
you refused to obey when I spoke to you.
Instead, you did what I view as evil,
and you chose to do what I do not like [or, what I hate].”
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 .