Isaiah 42:16

The prophet hastens on to the gracious issue of God's interposition, the homebringing of the captives through the trackless desert.

the blindhere are hardly the spiritually blind, those who cannot discern God's purpose (as Isaiah 42:18); what is meant is that the travellers cannot see their path, just as the desert is the region of "darkness" because it has no track (cf. Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 2:31). For knew and have known, render know, with R.V.

crooked things straight crooked places a plain (cf. ch. Isaiah 40:4).

these things … forsake them Better: These are the things I have determined to do (perf. of resolution) and not leave undone.