I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people: Yahweh himself will share in the future joy of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. Their joy will be a source of joy for him. When he recreates the universe, he will find great delight in the restored Jerusalem and in its happy citizens. New International Version says “I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people.”

No more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress: This is the first of two no more clauses in this section. The second one occurs at the beginning of the next verse. In the new creation certain unpleasant things will be absent. Two sounds will no longer be heard in Jerusalem, namely, weeping and the cry of distress. The people of Judah will no longer weep, nor will they cry in sorrow (as they did in the lament of 63.7–64.12). In the early days of their return from Babylonia, they were distressed to see that their country was still in ruins after the Babylonian invasion. God’s promises were not fulfilled completely yet. But in his new creation joy and happiness will replace their sadness.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• I will delight in Jerusalem,
and be happy for my people.
The sound of people weeping and crying
because they are distressed
will no longer be heard there.

• I will rejoice over Jerusalem,
and be delighted for my people.
They will no longer weep and cry
because of their sorrow.

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 .