Verses 9-14 are similar to 3.16—4.1 by focusing on the women of Jerusalem. It is not clear why this is done here. They probably represent all those who enjoy life in Jerusalem but who will soon lament what is about to happen to them and their pleasant city.

Rise up, you women who are at ease is the first of three imperative clauses in this verse. The Hebrew verb rendered Rise up is not used with a literal sense here, but it simply introduces the action of listening (compare 14.21). It emphasizes that the women should listen to what the prophet is about to say. Translators may omit this verb if readers misunderstand it to mean literally that the women should stand up (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). The Hebrew adjective translated who are at ease means that the women feel secure and untroubled.

Hear my voice is the second imperative clause. It may be rendered “listen to what I have to say.”

You complacent daughters, give ear to my speech is parallel to the previous line. The complacent daughters are not different from the women who are at ease. Both these expressions refer to women who are comfortable and unworried, full of self-confidence. Good News Translation describes them as “women who live an easy life, free from worries.” Give ear to my speech is synonymous with hear my voice, so Good News Translation combines them with “listen to what I am saying.” For hear and give ear together, see 1.2.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Come, you women who are free from care, listen to me;
you ladies who are so self-confident, take note of my words.

• Listen to me, you women who live so comfortably;
take note of my words, you ladies full of self-confidence.

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 .