Isa 17:12 | NETfull | STEP | The many nations massing together are as good as dead, those who make a commotion as loud as the roaring of the sea’s waves. The people making such an uproar are as good as dead, those who make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves.

Isaiah 17:12

12 The many nations massing together are as good as dead, ^{▼▼ Heb “Woe [to] the massing of the many nations.” The word הוֹי (hoy) could be translated as a simple interjection here (“ah!”), but since the following verses announce the demise of these nations, it is preferable to take הוֹי as a funeral cry. See the note on the first phrase of 1:4.}
those who make a commotion as loud as the roaring of the sea’s waves. ^{▼▼ Heb “like the loud noise of the seas, they make a loud noise.”}
The people making such an uproar are as good as dead, ^{▼▼ Heb “the uproar of the peoples.” The term הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) does double duty in the parallel structure of the verse; the words “are as good as dead” are supplied in the translation to reflect this.}
those who make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves. ^{▼▼ Heb “like the uproar of mighty waters they are in an uproar.”}