“Come,” they say, “let us get wine: The plural imperative Come also occurred near the beginning of the section, so it forms an inclusio. Here it introduces a quote that summarizes the attitude of Israel’s leaders. The quote frame they say is not in the Hebrew text. Revised Standard Version adds it to indicate that the prophet is quoting the leaders at this point. Most other versions also add a quote frame; for example, New International Version has “each one cries,” Revised English Bible uses “says each of them,” and Good News Translation chooses “these drunkards say.” Instead of let us get wine, the Hebrew has “let me get wine” (see RSV footnote). Like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, several other versions change the singular expression in Hebrew to plural in order to agree with the surrounding verb forms. However, it may be possible to use the singular, especially if an appropriate quote frame is used (so New International Version, Revised English Bible). For wine see the comments on 1.22.

Let us fill ourselves with strong drink is literally “let us drink a lot of strong drink.” The leaders are not content to enjoy a small amount of wine but want to get drunk. The plural expression here indicates that one of the leaders invites the others to join him in getting drunk. The Hebrew word for strong drink is better rendered “beer” (see the comments on 5.11). For this whole line translators may use a common local idiom for getting drunk, without referring specifically to strong drink. But they should not choose an expression that is vulgar. Good News Translation has “and drink all we can hold!” It may also be rendered simply “Let’s get drunk!”

And tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure is literally “and it will be like this day tomorrow [with] exceedingly great abundance.” Tomorrow is a figure for the future. In these two lines the leaders are saying the future will be even better than what they are enjoying in the present. This is the spirited brawling of drunk people. Revised Standard Version‘s translation of these lines is somewhat awkward in English since it follows the Hebrew closely. Good News Translation is more natural with “Tomorrow will be even better than today!”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates this verse in the form of a rhyming song produced by happy drunks, which may be possible in other languages. New International Version provides the following helpful model: “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• They say to each other, “Come on, let me get some wine
and let’s get really drunk!
Tomorrow will be even better than today!”

• They shout, “Come on, let us get some wine
and we will get completely drunk!
Tomorrow will be even greater than today!”

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 .