Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread…? is a rhetorical question with two parts. This first part continues the figurative language of the previous verse about using money. There God urged his people to obtain food and drinks without having to pay for them. The food and drinks are metaphors for God’s grace and mercy. Here he asks them why they spend the little money they have on things that are not this kind of food. He implies that they are wasting their money because what they buy is not the “real” food. The Hebrew word for bread may be rendered “food.” Here it is a metaphor for any food that does not really “feed” a person. For this first part of the question Bible en français courant translates “What good is it to spend money on bread that does not nourish…?” Good News Translation has “Why spend money on what does not satisfy?” For languages that do not favor the use of rhetorical questions, translators may use a strong statement; for example, “Do not spend your money on what is not real food/bread!”

And your labor for that which does not satisfy is parallel to the previous line of the question. Why do you spend is implied here. Since your labor is parallel to your money, it refers to the result of the people’s labor, and may be rendered “your wages” (Good News Translation). That which does not satisfy refers to things that provide no long-term benefit. Good News Translation renders this clause as “and still be hungry” (similarly Bible en français courant [1997]). However, it is better to refer generally to a lack of satisfaction rather than specifically to hunger (see the examples below). For languages that avoid rhetorical questions, this line may be rendered “Surely you should not waste your work/energy/efforts/wages on things that do not give satisfaction [or, that leave you unfulfilled/unhappy/empty]!”

The rhetorical questions strongly disapprove of what the people were doing, while the second half of the verse contains contrasting statements that tell them what they should do instead.

Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good: Hearken diligently to me is literally “Listen [by] listening to me.” The same Hebrew verb is repeated, first as an imperative and then as an infinitive. This construction emphasizes listening to God (compare the use of a similar construction in 24.19). Revised Standard Version uses the word diligently to reflect the emphasis. The verb Hearken has the sense of obedience here. God tells his people not only to obey him, but also to eat what is good (literally “eat good”), which is a figurative expression. This “eating” metaphor builds on the earlier ones. God tells the people that they should not waste their time “eating” useless and unsatisfying food. Rather, they should enjoy what is beneficial and satisfying. But many versions use the future tense to render the Hebrew verb for eat. This is because the Hebrew form for this verb can be either imperative or indicative. If it is an indicative verb, then eat what is good is the result of obeying God. Revised English Bible expresses this sense by rendering the whole line as “Listen to me and you will fare well.” We prefer rendering the verb eat as an imperative.

And delight yourselves in fatness is literally “and let your life delight in fatness” or “and your life will delight in fatness.” The Hebrew verb for delight can be jussive or indicative. We prefer a future indicative verb here. If God’s people obey him and “eat” what is good, then they will enjoy a good life. Yourselves (literally “your life”) renders the Hebrew word nephesh, which refers to a person’s whole being (see the comments on 1.14). New International Version says “your soul,” but it may be translated simply “you.” Fatness is an image for an abundance of good things. In the ancient Hebrew culture to be fat was a sign of prosperity and blessing. The promise of becoming fat would be wonderful news for those who are poor and starving as a result of being in exile so long. Few translations have fatness or “fat” in their rendering of this line, but Revised English Bible says “you will enjoy the fat of the land.” Good News Translation is less figurative with “and you will enjoy the best food of all” (similarly New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Another possible model is “and you will enjoy food/life abundantly [or, in abundance].”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Why spend your money on food that is no good?
Why spend your wages on things that cannot satisfy?
Listen carefully to me and eat the best,
and you will enjoy it abundantly.

• Don’t spend your money on things other than [good] food/bread!
Don’t spend your wages on unsatisfying things!
Listen closely to me and eat only what is good,
and you will find abundant pleasure.

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 .