Therefore …: For the structure of verses 7 and 8, see the comments on the previous verse.
Thus says the Lord GOD: These words are repeated from verse 7 to emphasize the importance of what God is saying.
Behold, I, even I, am against you: More emphasis is added with the word Behold, and the repetition of I, even I. Against you is a common expression in Ezekiel when God is about to declare his judgment on people. It means that God is coming against the people like an enemy to punish them (so Good News Translation). Translators are encouraged to put as much emphasis on this part of the verse as possible. A model for the first half of this verse is:
• Because of these things, listen you people of Jerusalem to what I, the Lord Yahweh, am saying to you. Listen to me, I say! I am coming against you to punish you. Yes, I am coming against you!
And I will execute judgments in the midst of you in the sight of the nations means God will punish the people of Judah while the neighboring nations are watching. The Hebrew here has a beautiful play on words with the previous verses. The Hebrew expression for I will execute judgments (literally “I will do judgments”) actually consists of the same words rendered “kept my ordinances” in verse 7. Thus there is a close connection and a vivid contrast between the people who do not “do the judgments” of God, and God who will “do the judgments” on them. In addition, just as God placed Jerusalem “in the midst the nations” (see Ezek 5.5), so God will inflict his punishments in the midst of you, that is, among the people of Jerusalem. Unfortunately, wordplays like these are usually impossible to translate effectively. But if wordplays are a feature of the receptor language, it would be good for translators to try to emulate the Hebrew in some way. In the sight of the nations means where all the neighboring nations can watch. Because of the shame involved, the people of Jerusalem will feel the punishment much more acutely when others are watching. A possible model for this sentence is “I will punish you in plain sight of all the neighboring nations” or “The neighboring nations will watch as I carry out your punishment.”
Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .