Tell them therefore: Here God responds to the people’s proverb. In many languages it is more natural to say “Therefore tell them” ( NET Bible) or “For this reason tell the people.”

Thus says the Lord GOD: See verse 10.

I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel: New Century Version provides a helpful model here, saying “I will make them stop saying this, and nobody in Israel will use this saying anymore.” Contemporary English Version has “I … am going to prove that saying wrong. No one will ever be able to use it again in Israel.”

But say to them: God tells Ezekiel to say something further to the people on his behalf.

The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision: God counters the people’s proverb with this saying. It totally contradicts their proverb, which Good News Translation makes very clear. Good News Translation renders the people’s proverb as “Time goes by, and predictions come to nothing”; for God’s response here it has “The time has come, and the predictions are coming true!” Some translations try to smooth over God’s response by using a subordinate clause; for example, New International Version and Revised English Bible have “The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled” (similarly New Century Version). It is possible to understand the Hebrew here in this way, but it loses the vivid contrast between the two sayings. Any translation will benefit from retaining a clear contrast as in Good News Translation.

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 .