en_tn_lite_do_not_use/isa/14/31.md

Howl, gate; cry, city

Here "gate" and "city" represent the people at the city gates and in the cities. "Howl, you people at the city gates; cry, you people in the cities" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

you will melt away

Melting away represents becoming weak because of fear. AT: "you will grow weak with fear" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke

This implies that a large army is coming from the north. AT: "For from the north comes a large army with a cloud of smoke" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)

a cloud of smoke

Possible meanings are 1) this represents a cloud of dust that the army stirs up as they travel on dry dirt roads. AT: "a cloud of dust" or 2) there is a lot of smoke because of all the things that the army destroys and burns. AT: "much smoke" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

there is no straggler in his ranks

"no one in his ranks walks slowly behind the others"

How will they respond to the messengers of that nation?

The author uses this question to introduce his instruction about how the Israelites should speak to the messengers. AT: "This is how we will answer the messengers of Philistia." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)

Yahweh has founded Zion

"Yahweh started Zion"

in her

"in Jerusalem" or "there"

the afflicted of his people

"those of his people who have been afflicted"