1:7a

Behold: The word emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. The word is also used here in a somewhat literal sense, because when Jesus does come, people will indeed see him. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language for talking about a wonderful or amazing event that people will see. Other ways to translate this word are:

Hey/Wow
-or-
Remember/Consider this:

He is coming with the clouds: The pronoun He refers to Jesus Christ here. John named him in 1:5a. In some languages it is more natural to translate the pronoun He using his name because of the many words used following the mention of his name in 1:5a. For example:

Jesus is coming with the clouds (New Century Version)

This clause is similar to prophecies in the Gospels, including Matthew 24:30. This clause is also similar to Daniel 7:13. You may want a footnote to explain the connection to those prophecies. An example footnote is:

This clause is like the prophecy in Matthew 24:30. It is also similar to Daniel 7:13.

He is coming: This phrase uses the present tense. John used the present tense to emphasize that Jesus is definitely coming soon. However, the rest of the verse uses the future tense. In some languages it is more natural to use the future tense here also. For example:

He will definitely come soon

with the clouds: This phrase indicates that clouds will be near Jesus as he returns. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

on the clouds (Good News Translation)
-or-
in company with the clouds

1:7b

every eye will see Him: The phrase every eye is an idiom that means “everyone.” For example:

everyone will see him (New Century Version)

1:7c

even: Here the word even means “including” (as in the Good News Translation).

those who pierced Him: This phrase comes from Zechariah 12:10. Here it refers to the soldiers who pierced Jesus with nails and to the soldier who pierced him with a spear. But the phrase also refers to the leaders who ordered the soldiers to pierce him. More generally, it includes all people who are enemies of Jesus (John 19:34, 37).

In some languages it is more natural to say how people pierced Jesus. But the important point is that these people caused Jesus to die. For example:

those who pierced his skin ⌊with nails and spear⌋
-or-
those who nailed him to a cross ⌊so that he would die⌋
-or-
the people who caused him to die by nailing him to a cross

1:7d

all the tribes of the earth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tribes refers to people grouped by language or culture. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

all peoples of the earth (New International Version)
-or-
all the people-groups of the world

mourn: This word refers to being very sad or grieving. Other ways to translate this word are:

grieve
-or-
have great sorrow

because of Him: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because of :

(1) It indicates that he is the reason they mourn, but it leaves unclear the question of why he is the reason they mourn. For example, it may be that he is coming to judge them, or it may be that they are sad that he suffered. For example:

on account of him (Revised Standard Version)

(2) It indicates here that the people mourn because they are sad that Jesus suffered. For example:

over him (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek allows for several reasons for the people to mourn. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

on account of ⌊seeing⌋ him
-or-
regarding him
-or-
because ⌊they rejected⌋ him

1:7e

So shall it be! Amen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So shall it be! is literally “Yes!” Like the word Amen, the word “yes” is used to express agreement that something is true. The two words are used together to emphasize that John strongly agreed. Other ways to translate these words are:

Yes! Amen! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Even so. Amen. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Indeed! True!

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