Like heat in a dry place: This line finishes the sentence begun in the previous line. It gives another illustration of the attack of cruel people. The Hebrew term rendered dry place is only found elsewhere in the Old Testament in 32.2. There it clearly refers to a desert, so for this line New International Version suggests “and like the heat of the desert” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible). This whole image refers to intense heat.
Thou dost subdue the noise of the aliens: Since Yahweh destroyed the fortifications of foreigners (verse 2), these people are silent. The type of noise here cannot be identified (see the comments 13.4, where the Hebrew term here is rendered “uproar.”). It could be cries for help, shouts of joy, shouts of victory, or some other kind of noise. So translators should use a general word that covers these various possibilities. In this context the verb subdue means “to make quiet” or “to reduce.”
As heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled: Just as a cloud stops the sun’s heat, so Yahweh stops the singing of cruel people. The song of the ruthless could refer to their song of victory over the poor. The Hebrew verb rendered is stilled has a number of meanings. Its primary meaning is “respond” or “answer,” as in 14.32. Another possible meaning is “sing,” as in Exo 15.21. All the translations consulted render it here with the sense of “make silent.” The passive form is stilled can be changed to an active one by adding Yahweh as the subject (see the examples below).
Translation examples for this verse are:
• … like heat in the desert.
You, Yahweh, silence the noise of the foreigners;
just as heat is reduced by the shade of a cloud,
so you silence the victory song of the mighty.
• … like heat in a dry land.
You, Yahweh, restrain the noise of the aliens;
just as heat is lessened when a cloud gives its shade,
so you remove the victory song from the mighty.
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 .