17:8a–b

it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up: These words refer to once being alive, then being dead, and then in the future being alive again. These words probably refer to imitating Jesus’ death and resurrection. The beast will do that to deceive people. Other ways to translate these words are:

is one that used to be and no longer is. It will come back (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up (Good News Translation)
-or-
was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up (New Living Translation (2004))

is about to come up: This phrase implies that the beast will be alive at this time. If you translated “once was, now is not” as “once was alive, but now is not,” or similar wording, your translation should imply here that the beast is alive at the time he is about to come up. If it does not imply that, you may want to include that implied information in your translation. For example:

was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up ⌊alive⌋
-or-
was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will ⌊live and⌋ soon come up

17:8b

but: There is implied contrast between “is not” and “will come.” In some languages it is more natural to use “and” here.

the Abyss: The word Abyss refers to a very deep pit or chasm. It indicates that the pit or chasm was too deep to measure. Here it probably refers to something underground rather than a chasm. See how you translated this word in 9:1 or 11:7.

17:8c

and go to its destruction: This clause indicates that God plans to destroy the beast. The word go refers figuratively to the beast’s life as a journey. At the end of his life journey, God will destroy him. But the focus here is on God’s plan to destroy him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

and is destined for destruction
-or-
only to meet with destruction (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
and will only live until God destroys him

The noun destruction refers to an event. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to use a verb for this event. For example:

but only to be destroyed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but ⌊God⌋ will destroy him

go: The future tense phrase “about to” is implied from 17:8b but not repeated here. Your translation should use a future form here. For example:

about to go

17:8d

those who dwell on the earth: This phrase refers to all people in a general way. But believers are not included (17:8e).

whose names were not written: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The Book of Life belongs to Jesus, called the Lamb (21:27). For example:

all whose names that ⌊the Lamb⌋ has not written
-or-
all whose names that ⌊no one⌋ had written
-or-
whose names were not written

were not written: The Greek grammar indicates that the event of writing the names happened earlier. The names not written in the book then are still not written now.

17:8e–f

the Book of Life: This phrase refers to a Book that has names written in it. God will give eternal Life to the people whose names are in this book. Some languages need to explain the word of. For example:

the book ⌊in which is the names⌋ of ⌊those who have⌋ ⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
the book ⌊with/having the names⌋ of ⌊those to whom God will give⌋ ⌊eternal⌋ life

See how you translated this phrase in 3:5 or 13:8.

from the foundation of the world: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from. It should be translated in the same way as in 13:8. See how you translated this phrase there.

17:8g

that was, and is not: These words have the same meaning as in 17:8a. Translate them in the same way here.

and yet will be: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be is literally “be present.” For example:

It was once alive; now it no longer lives, but it will reappear (Good News Translation)
-or-
this beast that used to be and no longer is, but will be once more (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the beast, which once was alive, and is alive no longer, and has still to appear (Revised English Bible)

and: There is implied contrast between the three clauses. For example:

but (NET Bible)

General Comment on 17:8d–g

There are four things said here that relate to one another:

(1) Some people’s names were not written in the Book of Life.

(2) That Book of Life was written before the beginning of the universe.

(3) Those people will be amazed at the beast.

(4) The beast once was, now is not, and yet will be present.

In some languages it is more natural to put some of that information into one or more sentences. For example:

8d The inhabitants of the earth 8f will be astonished when they see the beast, 8g because he once was, now is not, and yet will be present. 8d Their names were not written 8e in the Book of Life before the creation of the world.
-or-

8d The inhabitants of the earth 8f will be astonished when they see the beast, 8g because he once was, now is not, and yet will be present. 8d ⌊The Lamb⌋ did not write their names 8e in the Book of Life at the beginning of the world.

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