# Damascus has become very weak. It turns ... seizes it

Here "Damascus" represents the people who live there. Alternate translation: "The people of Damascus have become very weak. They turn ... seizes them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# terror seizes it

The abstract noun "terror" can be stated as the verb "terrified." Alternate translation: "Damascus is terrified" or "The people of Damascus are terrified"

# Distress and pain seize it, like the pain of a woman giving birth

This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns "distress" and "pain." The people are compared to a woman giving birth to emphasize their pain and fear. Alternate translation: "The people are afraid and suffering like a woman giving birth" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])