OET interlinear HAB 1:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-alternativereadings

מְגַמַּ֥ת פְּנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם קָדִ֑ימָ⁠ה

(Some words not found in UHB: of_it_of,all for,violence come hordes_of their_faces_of,their eastward,[is] and,it_gathered like,sand captives )

The phrase The direction of their faces is eastward is a translation of the written Hebrew text. This reading, however, is only one of several possibilities suggested by scholars. Scholars have proposed some alternative readings, and you may want to follow one of those. The UST follows the first alternative. Alternate translation: [Everyone is terrified as they approach] or [The set of their faces is like the east wind]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מְגַמַּ֥ת פְּנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם קָדִ֑ימָ⁠ה

(Some words not found in UHB: of_it_of,all for,violence come hordes_of their_faces_of,their eastward,[is] and,it_gathered like,sand captives )

Here, faces represents the determined direction of the Chaldean advance. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [They all press forward toward the east]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

וַ⁠יֶּאֱסֹ֥ף & שֶֽׁבִי

(Some words not found in UHB: of_it_of,all for,violence come hordes_of their_faces_of,their eastward,[is] and,it_gathered like,sand captives )

Here the singular pronoun he refers to the Chaldean nation collectively. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the plural pronoun. Alternate translation: [and they gather captives]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

וַ⁠יֶּאֱסֹ֥ף כַּ⁠ח֖וֹל שֶֽׁבִי

(Some words not found in UHB: of_it_of,all for,violence come hordes_of their_faces_of,their eastward,[is] and,it_gathered like,sand captives )

Yahweh says that the Chaldean gathers captives like the sand as an extreme statement to emphasize the vast number of people captured. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [and he gathers more captives than anyone can count]