The opening diatribe of the book of Isaiah (1:2-20) is remarkable for its searing rhetoric, yet it concludes by offering a return to prosperity should the people and leaders of Judah heed the word of their God. The speech begins with a call to heaven and earth to act as witnesses and a summary brief against the nation (verses 2-3). It ends with an appeal to reach a settlement and a conditional offer of rehabilitation (verses 18-20).
For a discussion of the poetry, rhetoric, and history of interpretation of this passage, a scansion, new translation, and more, go to:
Isa 1 2-20_History_of_Interpretation.pdf
Isa_1_2-20_Scansions_with_prosodic_notations_only.pdf
Isa_1_2-20_Reconstructed_original_orthography.pdf
Isa_1_2-20_A_new_translation.pdf
Isa_1_2-20_A_bilingual_edition.pdf
The book of Isaiah is a logical point of departure for a study of ancient Hebrew poetry. Robert Lowth had this to say in his Lecture XXI delivered at Oxford in the 1740’s:
Isaiah, the first of the prophets, both in order and dignity, abounds in such transcendent excellences, that he may be properly said to afford the most perfect model of prophetic poetry. He is at once elegant and sublime, forcible and ornamented; he unites energy with copiousness, and dignity with variety. In his sentiments there is uncommon elevation and majesty; in his imagery, the utmost propriety, elegance, dignity, and diversity; in his language, uncommon beauty and energy; and, notwithstanding the obscurity of his subjects, a surprising degree of clearness and simplicity.
(Robert Lowth, Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews: From the Latin of the late Robert Lowth, by G. Gregory; to which are added the principal notes of Professor Michaelis and notes by the translator and others [London: J. Johnson, 1787; repr. of the 4th Eng. ed. (London: T. Tegg, 1839), Whitefish MT: Kessinger, 2004] 228)
hi.
I just discovered you because of th feature on you as well as your recitation of psalm 19 at slate.com.
i liked the translation and your recitation so i searched for you on the net.
can you recite more biblical passages which i could download? just a suggestion.
can you also posts your translations just like they are poetry, separate from all the academic language analyses? i would like to download them and read them without the usual academic parsing and all?
thanks
conrad lacsina
university of the philippines,
quezon city,philippines
Posted by: conrad lacsina | October 08, 2007 at 05:34 AM
Dear Conrad,
so far as I know, I haven't been featured over at slate.com, nor have I podcasted recitations of my translations (though it is an interesting idea).
I began this blog with fellow students of ancient Hebrew in mind, and I don't want to lose that focus, but I realize many people land here, hungry for an adequate understanding and translation of Bible passages that are important to them.
I will think further about your request.
Posted by: JohnFH | October 08, 2007 at 08:23 AM