Yea, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem: Yea renders the Hebrew particle ki, which has an emphatic function here. New Jerusalem Bible is similar with “Yes.” New Revised Standard Version begins with “Truly,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Indeed.” Good News Translation, New International Version, and New American Bible omit it. The prophet addresses people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem. The terms Zion and Jerusalem are practically synonymous (see the comments on 1.8). Good News Translation combines the two by saying “You people who live in Jerusalem.”

You shall weep no more is an emphatic expression in Hebrew, which is literally “weeping you will not weep.” Good News Translation renders it well with “You … will not weep any more.” These are words of comfort to people whose hardships are about to end.

He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry: The pronoun He refers to Yahweh. Both Good News Translation and Revised English Bible make this clear by saying “The LORD.” Even though Hebrew Old Testament Text Project argues against making this change, translators may have to do it for clarity at the beginning of a new section. As noted above, be gracious links this verse with the previous verse. He will surely be gracious to you is another emphatic expression in Hebrew, which is literally “Being gracious he will be gracious to you.” The prophet draws special attention to God’s promise of kind treatment. It will come in response to the sound of your cry. When the people appeal to God for help, he will definitely give it. The context makes it clear that the cry is a cry for help. For at the sound of your cry, Good News Translation provides a helpful model with “when you cry to him for help.”

When he hears it, he will answer you: These words assure the people of Jerusalem that Yahweh will respond to their plea for help. He will answer you could be misunderstood as being only a verbal response, so some languages may prefer to say “he will come to your aid.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Indeed, people of Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you will not weep any more. God will definitely be kind when he hears you cry for help. When he hears it, he will respond.

• Truly, you people of Zion who live in Jerusalem, you will no longer weep. Yahweh will be sure to show you kindness when you cry for help. When he hears you, he will come to your aid.

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 .