# Behold

This can be translated as "Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you."

# Yahweh of hosts

See how you translated this in [Isaiah 1:9](../01/09.md).

# will lop off the boughs ... the lofty will be brought down

Isaiah speaks of the army of Assyria as if it were the tall trees in Lebanon. God will destroy the army like people cutting down the mighty trees of Lebanon. This emphasizes that though the army is strong, God has the power to destroy it. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# will lop off the boughs

"will cut off the big branches of the trees." In order to make it clear that this refers to the army of Assyria, it can be translated as a simile: He will destroy the army of Assyria like strong men cutting off the big branches of trees. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# with a terrifying crash

This can be reworded so that the abstract noun "crash" is expressed as the verb "make a noise." Alternate translation: "and the branches will crash down on the ground and make a terrifying noise" or "and the branches will fall to the ground with a very loud noise" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns]])

# the tallest trees will be cut down

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he will cut down the tallest trees" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])

# the tallest trees

This is a metaphor for "the strongest soldiers." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# the lofty will be brought down

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he will bring down the lofty people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])

# lofty

proud