In many languages the repetition will be perfectly acceptable and should be used. But in some languages translators will need to restructure the parts that are wordy and repetitious, and where groups of different terms have the same meaning and are used freely.

Curses, confusion, and frustration: other verses in this section will also have three or more terms that mean the same thing, which are used for effect. It is not always necessary to try to match word for word, especially if the total effect in the translation will create needless and boring repetition. The word translated curses here is different from the word in verse 15; it appears only here and in Pro 3.33; Mal 2.3; 3.9. Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version interpret curses as “disasters,” namely calamitous events such as floods, earthquakes, or pestilence that happen suddenly with a huge loss of life. The plagues described in verse 27 are an example of the kind of disaster that Yahweh will send. Confusion is used also in 7.23, indicating panic in war; and frustration appears only here in the Old Testament; it seems to indicate “menace” or “threat,” that is, the dangers posed by their enemies.

You are destroyed and perish quickly: more repetition. Good News Translation has “quickly and completely destroyed,” or we may say “Your enemies will destroy you quickly and completely.”

On account of the evil of your doings: their sins will cause their downfall.

Because you have forsaken me: this is the underlying cause for their punishment. Me refers to God, not to Moses (see the same in 7.4).

In some languages it will be helpful to put the final two clauses at the beginning of the verse; for example, “If you do evil and reject the LORD” (Good News Translation).

A possible alternative translation model for this verse is:

• If you do evil and reject Yahweh, no matter what you try to do [or, accomplish], he will cause terrible things to happen to you and confuse you. You will meet only trouble, and your enemies will destroy you quickly and completely.

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 .