One result of the curse noted in the previous verse is that wine is no longer available as a source of pleasure.
The wine mourns: The Hebrew noun rendered wine is a special term for the freshly pressed juice of grapes, which is sometimes called “new wine” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible). It is not the more regular word for “wine” found in verses 9 and 11. Languages that do not distinguish different kinds of wine can use the same word throughout this section. Like the earth in verse 4, the wine also mourns in a figurative way. Here the verb is an image for the scarcity of wine. Good News Translation renders this line nonfiguratively, saying “wine is becoming scarce.” A model that keeps the figure by explaining it is “The new wine mourns because there is not enough of it.”
The vine languishes: This line is parallel to the previous one. The vine refers to grapevines (see 7.23; 16.8). As in 16.8, this singular noun has a plural sense here. The verb languishes means withers and dries up, as in verse 4. Good News Translation places this line before the previous one, saying “The grapevines wither.”
All the merry-hearted sigh: All the people who were once happy now sigh. Merry-hearted is literally “happy of heart.” It may be necessary to make it clear in translation why these people sigh. They do it to express their unhappiness caused by the shortage of wine. Revised English Bible is clear with “and the revellers all groan in sorrow.” Translators may also choose another verb that will be more suitable in their language, such as “lament,” “complain,” or “grumble.” For the whole line Good News Translation provides a helpful model with “Everyone who was once happy is now sad.”
This verse may be translated as follows:
• The new wine laments its lack,
the grapevine withers,
all the once merry-hearted are groaning/sighing sorrowfully.
• Because of shortage the new wine mourns,
the grapevines wither;
saddened, every happy wine drinker complains.
• The new wine weeps because there is not enough of it.
The grapevines dry up,
all those who normally celebrate are sorrowful.
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 .