The prophet returns to the theme of celebration’s end, as in verses 7-9.

There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine is literally “A cry concerning wine in the streets.” Since verses 7-9 spoke about a wine shortage, the outcry occurs because there is no wine. Alternative models for this line are “People cry in the streets because there is no wine” (similarly Good News Translation) and “People in the streets cry out for wine.”

All joy has reached its eventide is a figurative expression similar in thought to the last line of verse 7. The Hebrew word rendered joy comes from the same root as the word for “merry” there. The Hebrew verb rendered has reached its eventide comes from a root that can mean “grow dark,” “dry up,” or “pass away” (BDB). Several versions draw on the imagery of a sunset when things begin to fade; for example, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “The sun has set on all joy,” Revised English Bible has “all joy has faded,” and New International Version reads “all joy turns to gloom.” The Septuagint has “all joy has passed away.” New Jerusalem Bible is similar with “all joy has vanished.” Good News Translation may be following the Septuagint with “Happiness is gone forever.” Translators are free to follow any of these renderings here.

The gladness of the earth is banished: The Hebrew word for gladness is rendered “mirth” in verse 8. The gladness of the earth refers to the cheerful sounds that people throughout the world make when they are happy. These happy sounds are banished, which means they are taken away. An alternative rendering for this line that does not use a passive verb is “joy/gladness has disappeared from the earth.”

For the translation of this verse we offer the following examples:

• People cry out in the streets because there is no wine.
All celebration has faded away,
happy sounds are silenced everywhere.

• People call out for wine in the streets.
Rejoicing has completely dried up,
earth’s joy is at an end.

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 .