Verse 3 is a time clause that introduces the main clause in verse 4a. Some translators may find it necessary to place the time clause after the main clause by saying “You will take up … when the LORD has given….” If this is done, the verse numbering should indicate that these verses have been combined. Good News Translation gives another option by dividing this long sentence into two shorter ones. By doing this it does not have to combine the verses. However, it should place verse number 4 after the time clause “When he does this” (see the third example below).

In these verses Good News Translation refers to Israel in the third person, as in verses 1-2. In the Hebrew text the prophet is addressing Israel rather than speaking about it. Both approaches are possible, depending on what is natural in a receptor language. The second person pronouns here (you and your) in Hebrew are singular, but translators may use plural.

When the LORD has given you rest: The Hebrew verb translated given … rest is the same one rendered “set” in verse 1. Revised Standard Version loses this link between this section and the previous one, but translators should try to keep it. The notice of rest here means “relief” (Good News Translation). Has given you rest may be rendered “will remove” or “set you free” (Contemporary English Version).

From your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve: As often in the book of Isaiah, several closely related terms are placed together here to present a complete picture; here it is a picture of Israel’s past hardship. Pain describes a state of sorrow and anguish. Turmoil refers to various troubles. (The Hebrew term rendered turmoil is a keyword in this section. In verse 9 it is rendered “is stirred up” and in verse 16 as “made … tremble.”) Hard service is the same expression in Exo 1.14 that describes Israel’s time of slavery in Egypt. The adjective hard indicates that it was difficult and/or heavy work. The hard service with which you were made to serve is a typical Hebrew expression in which a noun (service) and a verb (made to serve) from the same root are used together. In many languages this may be redundant, so other possible renderings are “the slavery you were forced to endure” and “the hard service you were made to give.” Good News Translation has “the hard work they were forced to do.”

You will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: The Hebrew verb form here is an imperative, encouraging the Israelites to sing the song that follows. Take up is a literal rendering of the verb, which has an idiomatic meaning here (see Psa 15.3 and Amos 5.1 for similar uses of the verb in relation to complains and laments). We may say “announce,” but its translation depends its object taunt. Taunt is a rendering based on the song/poem that follows. The Hebrew term here is mashal, which has a wide range of meanings from “proverb” to “psalm,” from “saying” to “allegory.” The context determines its meaning. Here New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “song of scorn,” Revised English Bible “taunt-song,” and Bible en français courant “satiric song.” However, in many cultures verses 4b-21 would not be something that was sung, though in some cases a special form of intoning could be used. Other possible translations are “mockery,” “mocking speech,” and “satire” (New Jerusalem Bible). For the whole clause we may say “You will laugh at the king of Babylonia,” since Israel is to celebrate the downfall of Babylonia’s violent and oppressive ruler. Contemporary English Version has “Then you will make fun of the King of Babylonia by singing this song,” which is a good model.

Consider the following translation examples for verses 3-4a:

• 3 When Yahweh gives you relief from the pain, trouble and harsh service you were forced to give, 4 you may laugh at [or, mock] the king of Babylonia, ….

• 3 When Yahweh relieves you of the pain, anguish and harsh slavery you endured, 4 you can pour scorn on the king of Babylonia and say, ….

• 3 Yahweh will relieve you of the pain, anguish and harsh slavery you endured. When that time comes, 4 you may mock the king of Babylonia, saying, ….

Verse 4b begins the “taunt” song that the people of Judah are to sing when mocking Babylonia’s dead king. For this song (verses 4b-21), Revised Standard Version uses double quote marks to indicate its outer boundaries, with single quote marks for the quotes within it (verses 8b, 10b, 13b-14, 16b-17). Good News Translation only marks verses 4b-11 as the song, but we do not recommend this.

Verses 4b-8 are general in tone, so this could be a song mocking all evil rulers. However, verse 4a specifically mentions the Babylonian king as the target of the song.

How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!: The opening Hebrew particle rendered How…! is an important marker that divides the song into two subsections: verses 4b-11 and 12-20. (The division is marked in Revised Standard Version by a blank line after verse 11.) This particle has a tone of mockery, which is captured in English with a phrase such as “Just look at how…!” Revised English Bible is similar with “See how…!” Bible en français courant says “How is it possible?” (also at verse 12|prj:FRC97.Isa 14.12). New Jerusalem Bible treats it as introducing a real question by beginning with “How did the tyrant end?” but this should not be done. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version use only an exclamation point, but this may not be appropriate in other languages.

The term oppressor points back to verse 2, where it referred to the Babylonians. The phrase insolent fury (New Jerusalem Bible “arrogance”) renders the Hebrew word marhebah, which is found in Dead Sea Scrolls. Marhebah means “assault/persecution/oppression,” which is a good parallel to oppressor. Masoretic Text has the Hebrew word madhebah, whose meaning is unknown. Both Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and de~Waard recommend following Dead Sea Scrolls (the Hebrew letters d and r are very similar). The examples given below do this. The Hebrew verb in both clauses means “to cease/desist.” New Jerusalem Bible has “did … end,” and Revised English Bible says “still … has become.” The general sense is that the Babylonian king’s oppression has ended, because he has been destroyed.

For translation of verse 4b we suggest the following examples:

• “How the oppressor has been stilled, the persecution brought to an end!

• “See how the oppressor has been stilled, the attack stopped!

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 .