When anguish comes …: The meaning of the Hebrew word for anguish is not clear because it used only here in the Old Testament. This explains the variety of renderings in the different translations. It seems to come from a root that means the bristling, creeping sensation that people feel on the skin when they are afraid. Here it probably refers to the fear and terror that the Israelites will feel when the Babylonian soldiers are about to attack. This noun may be rendered verbally; for example, Contemporary English Version expresses this clause as “You will be terrified.” Revised English Bible says “Shuddering will come over my people.” Another possible model is “Panic will break over them.”

They will seek peace: The terrified Israelites will look for a place where they will be safe from the danger of the Babylonian soldiers. This clause does not mean they will try to make peace with them. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “and they shall seek safety,” which is a helpful model.

But there shall be none: There will be no place where they will be safe.

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 .