# Behold

"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"

# I am breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem

"I will stop the supply of food to Jerusalem"

# the staff of bread

The supply is called a staff because some people need a staff to walk and do their work, and people need bread to live. Bread represents all kinds of food. Alternate translation: "the supply of food" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])

# they will eat bread while rationing it in anxiety

You may need to make explicit why they will ration the bread. "they will carefully divide their bread because they fear that there will not be enough" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# rationing

giving small amounts of something of which there is not enough to many people

# rationing it in trembling

The word "shaking" is a metaphor for being afraid and "trembling" represents fear. Alternate translation: "rationing it while shaking" or "rationing it in fear" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])