# Howl, gate; cry, city

Here "gate" and "city" represent the people at the city gates and in the cities. "Howl, you people at the city gates; cry, you people in the cities" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# you will melt away

Melting away represents becoming weak because of fear. AT: "you will grow weak with fear" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke

This implies that a large army is coming from the north. AT: "For from the north comes a large army with a cloud of smoke" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# a cloud of smoke

Possible meanings are 1) this represents a cloud of dust that the army stirs up as they travel on dry dirt roads. AT: "a cloud of dust" or 2) there is a lot of smoke because of all the things that the army destroys and burns. AT: "much smoke" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# there is no straggler in his ranks

"no one in his ranks walks slowly behind the others"

# How will they respond to the messengers of that nation?

The author uses this question to introduce his instruction about how the Israelites should speak to the messengers. AT: "This is how we will answer the messengers of Philistia." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# Yahweh has founded Zion

"Yahweh started Zion"

# in her

"in Jerusalem" or "there"

# the afflicted of his people

"those of his people who have been afflicted"

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/gate]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/philistines]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/nation]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/yahweh]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/zion]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/afflict]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/peoplegroup]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/refuge]]