Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them - namely, the nations (Assyria, etc.) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished (Ezekiel 16:37, "Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee"). Now, i:e., immediately.
And they shall sorrow a little - rather, 'in a little' (Henderson). The English version gives good sense: They shall sorrow х yaacheeluw (H2490) is best taken from chuwl (H2342), to sorrow, not as margin, 'begin'] a little at the imposition of the tribute. God suspended yet the great judgment, namely, their deportation by Assyria.
For the burden of the king of princes - the tribute imposed on Israel under Menahem) by the Assyrian king (Pul, 2 Kings 15:19-22), who had many "princes" under his sway (Isaiah 10:8). So heavy shall the burden of the captivity hereafter be felt, that they shall then sorrow but little for the burden of tribute imposed on them now by the great King of Assyria, which they feel so burdensome.