And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”: When the oppressors are defeated, there will be no more sickness. Most versions understand the line in this way. However, the clause I am sick can also be rendered “I am sad” or “I am grieved” (compare the comments on 17.11, where the Hebrew word here is rendered “grief”). If it has this sense, then in the context this line is saying that the people of Judah will have no cause to be sorry for what has happened to their oppressors.

The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity: This clause could be rendered “punishment will be lifted for the people who live there.” The Hebrew terms translated forgiven (literally “lifted up”) and iniquity (possibly meaning “burden,” “guilt,” or “punishment”) are fairly ambiguous. In view of the context in which they occur, we suggest a rendering that focuses on the lifting of the burden of oppression (see the examples below).

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• No inhabitant will say, “I am grieved”;
the burden of those who live there will be lifted.

• No inhabitant will say “I am sad”;
the punishment of those who live there will be lifted.

• No inhabitant will have to say “I am sick”;
the LORD will remove the oppression that those who dwell there experience.

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 .