Confused is translated “suddenly overcome” by Revised English Bible and “taken by surprise” by New International Version. The rendering of Moffatt (“asleep”) represents a slight change in one Hebrew letter, which is also the basis for the rendering of the Septuagint. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch sees the meaning as “Why do you act as though you cannot help…?” Following a similar interpretation, other translators have said “Why are you like someone who is helpless?”

A mighty man (see 5.16) translates one word in Hebrew which is often used with the meaning “soldier” (Good News Translation). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch prefers “war hero,” or we may also express the term as “great warrior.”

Who cannot save (Good News Translation “powerless to help”) may require an object in some languages, as in “powerless to help us.” Revised English Bible has “powerless to save himself.”

It is important to be sure readers understand that the question on the second line is about an apparent contradiction. A great warrior or champion would normally be able to save. So the question may be “Why are you acting like you can’t save [us] even though you are a great warrior?”

In the Hebrew text, the line Yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us is introduced with a connective that marks a contrast. Thus translators can say “Yet you are with us, LORD,” similar to Revised Standard Version, or “But you are with us indeed.”

Called by thy name: See the comment at 7.10. Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch interpret the expression to mean “We are your people.” Translators could also say “We are known as your people.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .