Laying … waste translates the verb first used in 4.30, translated “desolate” by Revised Standard Version.

Stilling her mighty voice is more literally “destroying from her a great voice,” which a number of commentators take as a reference to the activities of city life, especially of trading and commerce: “stilling the din of her city-life” (Moffatt); “silence the noise of the city” (Revised English Bible). With either interpretation, the sense is “silencing the city” or “bringing silence to the city.”

Their waves roar like many waters is a reference to the invading army, which is compared to an ocean rolling over Babylon (see verse 42). Moffatt translates this and the following line as “The enemy surge in like the roaring tides, shouting aloud.” However, some scholars take this as a reference to Babylon’s city noise, which thundered like the waves of the sea, as in New Jerusalem Bible “[Babylon] whose waves used to roar like the ocean and their tumultuous voices rang out.” New American Bible is similar: “Though her waves were roaring like mighty waters, and their clamor was heard afar.” However, our suggestion is that the interpretation of Good News Translation is probably best: “The armies rush in like roaring waves and attack with noisy shouts.”

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 .