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Isaiah 23:16

14 Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!

15 At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”

17 And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.

18 Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”
KJV
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
WEB
Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.
ASV
Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
DARBY
Take a harp, go about the city, thou forgotten harlot! Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
BLB
“Take a harp, go about the city, O forgotten harlot; make sweet melody, sing many a song, so that you may be remembered.”
ÅB
Ta din citar, gå omkring i byen, du glemte skjøge! Spill det beste du kan, syng vise på vise, så folk kan komme deg i hu!
OTB
"Ta opp en harpe, gå rundt i byen, du glemte skjøge; spill harpen godt, syng mange sanger, slik at du kan bli husket."
B1930
Ta din citar, gå omkring i byen, du glemte skjøge! Spill det beste du kan, syng vise på vise, så folk kan komme dig i hu!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 7:10–12

    Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 30:14

    All your lovers have forgotten you; they no longer seek you, for I have struck you as an enemy would, with the discipline of someone cruel, because of your great iniquity and your numerous sins.

    Read in context