And behold introduces the people’s response to Yahweh’s appeal. Since their response contrasted with what he desired (verse 12), this verse may begin with “But look!” or “Instead” (Good News Translation). For behold see the comments on 3.1.

Joy and gladness are both nouns that depict actions. They may be rendered as verbs (see the examples below).

Slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: All four of these verb phrases render Hebrew infinitives. They give a picture of feasting and celebration, as in verses 1b-2a. The Hebrew word for oxen is a general term for “cattle” (see 11.7). Flesh may be rendered “meat.” For wine see 1.22.

Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die: The people said this to each other as they celebrated. These words echo Eccl 2.24, and Paul quotes them in 1 Cor 15.32. Here they express the joy of the people in the present moment, without any concern for other issues. Some languages may require an object for the verbs eat and drink. If so, the first half of this expression may be rendered “Let us eat food and drink wine.” The clause for tomorrow we die is not a statement of fact but a figure of speech that emphasizes the possibility of death in the near future. It can be translated as a possibility rather than as a certainty, if this figurative sense is not understood; for example, “because we might die tomorrow” (see also the examples below).

We suggest the following possibilities for the translation of this verse:

• But look! You were happy and celebrated,
slaying cattle and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine!
You said, “Let’s eat and drink; tomorrow we might be dead!”

• Yet look! You enjoyed yourselves and celebrate,
slaying cattle and killing sheep, eating and drinking!
You said to yourselves, “Let’s have a party; we could be dead tomorrow!”

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 .