My children, endure with patience the wrath that has come upon you from God: Good News Translation shortens this to “My children, endure God’s punishment with patience.” God’s wrath manifests itself as punishment, and it is obviously upon you (see the comments on verse 9). Contemporary English Version expresses this with “For now, my children, be patient. God has punished you in anger.” In some languages, however, this will need to be rendered as “My children, God is punishing you now. You must be patient as you endure this.”

Your enemy has overtaken you: “Persecuted” (Good News Translation) is much closer to the meaning of the Greek word rendered overtaken. Moore translates “hounded.” “Tormented” would also be a good choice. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version translate your enemy as plural (“Your enemies”) for consistency, since the plural will be needed in the next lines.

You will soon see their destruction: This may be rendered in the active voice as “you will soon see people destroy them.”

Will tread upon their necks: This quotes the Greek version of Deut 33.29. The idiom means exactly what Good News Translation says with “at your mercy,” or Contemporary English Version with “you will have power over them,” but it is more than a figure of speech. In Josh 10.22-26 treading on the neck is a ritual act performed by the victor in battle before executing the defeated enemy. However, in most languages translators will need to make the meaning clear as in Good News Translation or Contemporary English Version, and if necessary, include a footnote explaining this custom. Compare also Isa 51.23.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.