Therefore translates an important connector in Hebrew. Here it introduces the result of verses 17-20. Good News Translation assumes that the context is clear enough, so it does not render this connector explicitly. Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch express it as a contrastive conjunction, saying “But now.” We recommend a conjunction that introduces verses 21-23 as a result, such as “Therefore” (RSV/NRSV, New International Version, Revised English Bible) or “So” (New Jerusalem Bible).
Hear this calls the people’s attention to what is about to be said. It renders a feminine singular Hebrew imperative that has attached to it a small particle that may be rendered “please” (see, for example, 5.3, where it is translated “I pray you”). But no version consulted expresses this particle of entreaty. For this clause translators may say “hear this please.”
You who are afflicted describes the suffering of the people of Jerusalem and Judah. The Hebrew term rendered afflicted also has the sense of “humiliated” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) and “poor” (see 3.14). It is an appropriate term for the exiles. Bible en français courant has “unfortunate Jerusalem,” and Good News Translation says “You suffering people of Jerusalem.” However, by making “Jerusalem” explicit, these versions may give the impression that the people are already back in Jerusalem. This is not the case.
Who are drunk, but not with wine is similar to a line in 29.9 (see the comments there). Here it relates back to the drinking of “the bowl of staggering” in verse 17. As there, the drunkenness is a metaphor for suffering. Drunk is parallel to afflicted. The people are not physically drunk. This is clear from the phrase but not with wine. As with verse 17, translators will need to ensure that the reference to drunkenness is understood as a metaphor. Possible renderings that do this are “you who appear drunk with wine, but are not,” “you who are ‘drunk’ but not from drinking wine,” and “you who are like drunk people even though you do not drink wine.”
Translation examples for this verse are:
• Therefore listen to this, you troubled ones,
you who are “drunk” but not from drinking wine.
• So listen to this, you afflicted/humiliated/downtrodden/poor ones,
you who appear drunk though you have had no wine.
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 .