28 Heb “I assign you to the sword.” Some emend the Qal verb form מָנִיתִי (maniti, “I assign”) to the Piel מִנִּיתִי (minniti, “I ordain”). The verb sounds like the name of the god Meni (מְנִי, méni, “Destiny, Fate”). The sound play draws attention to the irony of the statement. The sinners among God’s people worship the god Meni, apparently in an effort to ensure a bright destiny for themselves. But the Lord is the one who really determines their destiny and he has decreed their demise.
29 Or “at the slaughter”; “for the slaughter”; “before the executioner.”
30 Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”

In other versions

I will destine you to the sword,

and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,

because, when I called, you did not answer;

when I spoke, you did not listen,

but you did what was evil in my eyes

and chose what I did not delight in.”

I will destine you for the sword,

and all of you will fall in the slaughter;

for I called but you did not answer,

I spoke but you did not listen.

You did evil in my sight

and chose what displeases me.”

I will destine you for the sword,

and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered,

because I called and you did not answer,

I spoke and you did not hear;

you did what was evil in my sight

and chose what I did not delight in.”

now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword.

All of you will bow down before the executioner.

For when I called, you did not answer.

When I spoke, you did not listen.

You deliberately sinned—before my very eyes—

and chose to do what you know I despise.”

and I will remit you to the sword,

and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,

because I called, but you did not answer;

I spoke, but you did not listen,

but you did the evil in my eyes,

and you chose that in which I do not delight.”

Therefore will I number you to the sword,

And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter:

Because when I called, ye did not answer;

When I spake, ye did not hear;

But did evil before mine eyes,

And did choose that wherein I delighted not.

Public Domain