The thoughts expressed in this verse are almost identical to those in Pro 1.16 and 6.17-18.

Their feet run to evil is a graphic way of stating that the people are very quick to do something evil. Although it is a well-known idiom in Hebrew, its presence here is certainly prompted by the use of other body parts in this section, especially “hands” in the previous verse. Revised English Bible uses an alternative idiom, saying “They rush headlong into crime.” A possible nonfigurative model is “They are very quick to do evil.”

And they make haste to shed innocent blood is parallel to the previous line. It continues the theme of speedy action, which is a figure for the natural inclination of these people. They make haste can mean they act quickly, without hesitation, but it can also refer to the fact that this is the first thing they think of doing. To shed innocent blood can be both a metaphor as well as a statement of fact. In either case it accuses these evil people of taking advantage of the innocent people who could not defend themselves in court against the crimes with which they were charged. In verse 4 the prophet accused them of using lies and dishonesty when making legal claims. Here he says the innocent people who were accused and lost their cases have been put to death unjustly. For this line Revised English Bible has “in furious haste to shed innocent blood.” Bible en français courant expresses it more bluntly with “you hurry to murder the innocent.”

Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity is similar to the first line that spoke of evil actions; here the subject is their evil plans. The people are concerned only with gaining whatever they want through deception and evil. The Hebrew word for iniquity is the same one used in verses 4 and 6. Bible en français courant renders this line as “Your plans have as sole aim to cause harm to others.” Good News Translation combines it with the first line, saying “You are always planning something evil, and you can hardly wait to do it.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar with “All the time you plan evil things and you burn to carry them out.”

Desolation and destruction are in their highways is a figurative expression for the destructive lifestyle of the people. The word pair desolation and destruction also occurs in 51.19 and 60.18. The Hebrew word for desolation refers to ruins caused in some violent manner, while the word for destruction refers to the actual process of smashing things. Together these terms highlight the fact that the people use violence to gain some personal benefit. For highways see the comments on 7.3. Here it is a metaphor for lifestyle, as in Pro 16.17. Normally a more common Hebrew term for “road” is used as an image for lifestyle (see, for example, 8.11, where it is rendered “way”), but perhaps this less common term is used for emphasis. For this line Good News Translation has “You leave ruin and destruction wherever you go” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Translation examples for this verse are:

• They are very quick to do evil,
and they rush to kill innocent people.
Their only thoughts are for using deceptive/evil means,
their way of life is one of violence and harm.

• They think only of doing evil acts,
and they are quick to put to death innocent ones.
Using deception/evil is all they think about,
violence and harm are their manner of living.

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 .