In verses 6-7 Yahweh says he will punish his rebellious people. The word Behold indicates this change of direction in his speech and draws attention to it. New International Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translate it “See,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “Look.” Another possible rendering is “Indeed.” Good News Translation omits it.

It is written before me: For Revised Standard Version this clause refers to the quoted words that follow. However, for other versions it points to a record of the people’s wayward behavior noted in verses 1-5. In the Old Testament there is the notion that God keeps a book in which good and bad deeds are recorded (see Psa 69.28; Mal 3.16). It is a very human way of speaking about God’s awareness of people’s deeds. This clause probably means God is in the process of looking at that record book. Revised English Bible interprets it in this way, saying “Your record lies before me.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is similar with “this is recorded before Me,” and so is Bible en français courant with “I have taken note of their conduct.” Following this interpretation, the word Behold could be a call to the people to look at the book that God is showing them. That, of course, is a very poetic way of reminding the people that God is aware of their deeds.

I will not keep silent means God will do something because of the record of the rebels deeds. For the Hebrew verb rendered keep silent, see the comments on 42.14, where it is translated “held … peace.”

But I will repay, yea, I will repay into their bosom: The Hebrew expression rendered but introduces a strong contrast. This line repeats the verb repay to emphasize that God will punish his rebellious people fully. The Hebrew verb rendered repay does not mean “taking revenge,” but rather “punishing in proportion to the offense committed” (see the comments on 59.18). Most versions consulted use “repay” or “pay back,” but Bible en français courant says “settle [their] account.” Both times the verb for repay is in the perfect form in Hebrew, implying that what God will do is as good as done already. This verb is repeated to indicate the certainty of the punishment. In some languages the repetition of the verb alone will not necessarily convey the emphasis in the Hebrew forms. It may be possible to achieve it by adding a word such as “yes” (similarly Revised Standard Version) or “indeed” (New Revised Standard Version). Into their bosom is literally “upon their lap” (similarly New Revised Standard Version and New International Version), which is an idiomatic expression based on carrying things in the skirt of a long garment. It means “in full measure” or “to the fullest extent possible.” Bible en français courant uses “abundantly,” and Revised English Bible has “fully.”

Their iniquities and their fathers’ iniquities together: God will punish the people of Judah for their sins and the sins of their forefathers. The sinfulness listed in verses 1-5 had always been a feature of Judah’s life. Masoretic Text has “your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together,” so it changes from third person to second person for Judah. However, such a grammatical person switch is common in Hebrew poetry. Translators may use third person for consistency, as in Revised Standard Version. For iniquities see the comments on 1.4 and 59.2.

The quote frame says the LORD underlines that this is Yahweh’s pronouncement (see the comments on 7.7). Good News Translation began the divine speech with “The LORD said” in verse 1, so it does not repeat the quote frame here.

Translation examples for verses 6-7a are:

• 6 See, it is recorded here in front of me;
I cannot refuse to act.
Rather, I will pay you back,
I will pay you back in full
7 for your sins together with the sins of your forefathers,
says the LORD.

• 6 Look, here before me is the record;
I cannot remain silent.
But I will repay them,
I really will repay them in full
7 for their sinful ways and those of their fathers,
says the LORD.

Because they burned incense upon the mountains: The Hebrew verb rendered burned incense can refer to burning incense (so RSV/NRSV, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant) or burning sacrifices (so New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Both senses fit this context, so translators may choose either one. However, it is important to indicate that the people did this to worship foreign gods (see verse 3). Good News Translation makes this explicit, and so does Bible en français courant with “burned incense to the false gods.” Upon the mountains also indicates that pagan worship is in view here, since God banned worship outside the Temple in Jerusalem due to the corrupting influence of Canaanite religious practices in the countryside (see the comments on 36.7).

And reviled me upon the hills also implies idol worship. The people mocked Yahweh by worshiping other gods. For the Hebrew verb rendered reviled, see the comments on 37.4, where it is translated “mock.” Good News Translation renders reviled as “spoken evil of,” Bible en français courant has “provoked,” Revised English Bible says “shamed,” and New International Version uses “defied.” Upon the hills is parallel upon the mountains. Both are standard Old Testament phrases that imply taking part in Canaanite worship (compare 2.2).

I will measure into their bosom payment for their former doings: Yahweh repeats that he will punish the people of Judah after outlining the reasons for doing so in the previous two lines. The Hebrew verb rendered measure … payment is used figuratively for the punishment that is appropriate or proportionate to their sins. It is similar to the notion of “repaying” in the previous verse. Into their bosom is the same idiom that occurred in the previous verse. Their former doings is literally “their former work/deed.” Revised English Bible considers the Hebrew adjective for former to be an adverb, so it begins the third line with “I shall first measure.” However, most versions treat it as an adjective describing the deeds as those of the past. For these two lines Bible en français courant has “Hence I will take steps that are well measured out against their ancient conduct, steps that are good and abundant!” Good News Translation renders them simply and clearly as “So I will punish them as their past deeds deserve.”

One possible translation model for verse 7b is:

• Because they sacrificed [to foreign gods] on the mountains
and mocked me on the hills,
I will first measure their deeds,
and pay them in full.

Some languages may prefer to reorder verse 7b by placing the reasons for God’s punishment of the people at the end as follows:

• I will pay them fully for their past deeds,
because they burned incense to gods on the mountains,
and mocked me on the hills.

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 .