This verse gives the reason for the instructions in the previous two verses: the uncovered excrement would defile the camp, which was a holy place because of the presence of Yahweh.

The LORD your God walks in the midst of the camp: if possible this vivid language should be retained in translation. If this is not possible we may say “the LORD your God is with you” (Good News Translation) or “the LORD is always present” (Contemporary English Version).

To save you: that is, from the enemy; Good News Translation “protect” is better in this context.

To give up your enemies before you: this means to give the Israelites victory over their enemies (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Your camp must be holy: Good News Translation has “ritually clean,” but in this case it seems advisable to retain a word for holy, whose primary meaning is “completely dedicated to the service of God.” In some instances an explanatory footnote to the word may be helpful.

Anything indecent: the same word is used in 24.1. Here it means “offensive to God” (Revised English Bible); New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “unseemly” and Bible en français courant “repugnant” are not quite as good. Contemporary English Version has “filthy and disgusting things.”

And turn away from you means “turn around and leave you,” “turn his back on you” (Good News Translation), or even “abandon you.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .