These are words from a popular song at that time. The prophet applies them to Tyre’s future when she will engage in trade again, and so regain her lost reputation as a center of commerce. Revised Standard Version sets off the song by using poetic format and double quote marks, but Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version only have poetic format.

Take a harp, go about the city, O forgotten harlot: Harlots at that time were often musicians. Here the song calls on the harlot to play her harp. The verb Take implies “Take up and play.” For harp see 5.12. Go about the city pictures the harlot as a wandering minstrel, entertaining people. O forgotten harlot picks up the theme of being forgotten from the previous verse. Tyre as the harlot is told to regain her reputation by drawing attention to herself. New International Version says “O prostitute forgotten.” Another possibility is “you prostitute whom everyone has forgotten.”

Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered: The harlot is urged to play her instrument well to produce a pleasant tune. She is also called on to sing a lot of songs. That you may be remembered is the purpose for doing these things. She is told to play music and sing, so that people will take notice of her and remember her again. The last line may be rendered with an active verb by saying “so that people will remember you.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “Take your harp and go about the city,
you harlot whose reputation has gone!
Play your harp beautifully,
sing many songs,
so that people will remember you once more!”

• “O prostitute whom all have forgotten,
take up your harp and go about the city,
playing sweetly and singing many songs.
That way you will be remembered again.”

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 .