Many translations see the first three lines of this verse as being the words of the LORD to the people, with the last line as their response. Some of these then begin the verse “The LORD [also] says,” and at the fourth line, “The people said.” Other translations, for example Bible en français courant, put the whole verse in the mouth of the people. Bible en français courant also marks the speaker at the beginning of each unit by putting simply “the people” or “the Lord.”
Behold: See 1.6. As there, “Look!” is a common translation.
He is clearly a reference to the enemy, and is identified as such by Moffatt, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. Jerusalem Bible provides a footnote indicating that the “destroyer” of verse 7 is meant.
Comes up is normally rendered simply as “comes” or “advances”; it may possibly be translated as “comes against you” (or, “comes against us” if the whole verse is translated as though spoken by the people).
Clouds is translated by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch as “storm clouds,” which balances well with whirlwind (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible “hurricane”) in the next line. Both images are intended to picture the awesome and destructive nature of the invasion. For the imagery of a cloud used in this way, see Ezek 38.16 and Joel 2.2; for the figure of the whirlwind, see Isa 5.28; 66.15 (Revised Standard Version “stormwind”).
The chariots are “war chariots” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), which were horse-drawn carts that had two wheels. It is most probable that these chariots were designed to hold two riders, though it is also possible that they may have had as many as three riders. Chariots were especially adapted for warfare on the plains, and they were of little or no use in the hill country. Not all languages will be familiar with chariots. If there is a general word for vehicle, then “vehicle for war” is a possible translation, or “vehicle for soldiers in war.” Another way to render the second line would be to say “like a whirlwind, his soldiers are coming to attack in their vehicles,” or possibly “the horses are pulling his soldiers in their wagons as they attack like a whirlwind.”
Horses are large, four-legged domesticated animals that can pull wagons or carry riders swiftly. If they are totally unknown in an area, then translators may have to use a generic term such as “large, fast animals.”
Eagles translates a word that may also mean “buzzard,” but the context indicates that the meaning “eagle” is required. The focus is upon the sudden and swift attack of the bird.
Woe to us translates a Hebrew idiom that may be rendered any number of ways; for example, “We are lost!” (Good News Translation) or “Trouble is coming!” (Jerusalem Bible). Others have used “How terrible for us!” while Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses an idiomatic expression that may be translated “We are done for!”
We are ruined (often rendered elsewhere by Revised Standard Version as “laid waste” or “destroyed”) translates the same verb used also in 4.20; 9.19; 10.20; 48.1, 15, 20; 49.3, 10. Good News Translation translates “We are doomed!” Revised English Bible “we are lost” is fine if readers don’t misunderstand this to mean they don’t know where they are. “It’s the end for us!” is another way to express it.
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .