Strictly speaking this verse does not constitute a fully formed grammatical sentence, as there is no main verb in the Hebrew. As is shown in the literal rendering of Revised Version, there are two noun phrases, each followed by a reason clause: “A voice of the howling of the shepherds! for..: a voice of the roaring of young lions! for….” In fact, the noun “voice” in such a construction has almost the force of a verb, and this is why it is translated Hark in Revised Standard Version (so Moffatt, New American Bible, New English Bible/ Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “Listen” in New International Version, Beck, New Revised Standard Version, and Contemporary English Version. (Instances of a similar usage of “voice” are found in Gen 4.10; Isa 13.4; Isa 66.6; Jer 25.36.)

The wail of the shepherds: Wail is rendered in Good News Translation as “cry out in grief,” and more simply but less emotionally “are crying” in Contemporary English Version. The shepherds are usually understood to represent leaders, whether from the LORD’s people or from foreign nations (compare 10.3), and this is why Good News Translation translates “rulers.” Some other modern versions retain the literal term shepherds but indicate the same understanding as Good News Translation by adding “of the people” (Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). In cultures where shepherds and “sheep” are unknown, translators may follow the model of Good News Translation that dispenses with the figurative language.

For their glory is despoiled: This is usually taken to have a meaning related to the natural environment, and to refer to the destruction of the pastures on which the shepherds fed their flocks. Several versions render glory as “rich pastures” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New English Bible/ Revised English Bible, New International Version). For the whole clause others say “their time of glory is past” (Bible en français courant), “their glorious power is destroyed” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “their flocks are destroyed” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1. Edition).

Hark, the roar of the lions, for the jungle of the Jordan is laid waste: The second half of the verse switches from the distress of people to that of wild animals. The lions roar because the jungle of the Jordan is laid waste. The jungle of the Jordan (literally “The pride of the Jordan” in New Jerusalem Bible) is the area of luxuriant vegetation along the riverbank in the hot and low-lying Jordan Valley. In Biblical times, lions could still be found there. The lions are distressed because of the destruction of their habitat. Good News Translation expresses the last clause as “their forest home along the Jordan is destroyed!” For the jungle of the Jordan, other versions use terms like “the thickets of the Jordan” (Jerusalem Bible), “Jordan’s dense thickets” (New English Bible/ Revised English Bible), or “the lush thicket of the Jordan” (New International Version). Another model for this final sentence is “Listen, the lions are roaring because their home in the thick forest along the Jordan Valley is destroyed.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .