One who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant: that is, someone who hears the terms and conditions of the covenant—especially the curses (28.15-68). Another way to express this clause is “You may be a person who hears the solemn conditions of the LORD’s covenant [or, agreement] with you….”

One who … blesses himself in his heart, saying: that is, he reassures himself or comforts himself. Other renderings are Good News Translation “convinces himself,” Revised English Bible “flatters himself,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “believes himself to be too good,” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “believes himself blessed,” Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “tells himself that all will be well.” All of these are good.

Sworn covenant: as in verse 12.

I shall be safe: this translates the Hebrew “I will have peace [or, safety]” (shalom). In some languages direct speech (see Revised Standard Version) will be natural style, whereas translators in other languages will prefer to follow Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version and use indirect speech.

Though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart: he recognizes that he is stubbornly following his own desires and not the terms of the covenant. Good News Translation has “even if he stubbornly goes his own way.” However, if a translator uses direct speech, the following is a possible alternative: “even if I am stubborn and go my own way.”

This would lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike: this is not something the person speaking says, but is a comment by Moses or by the writer of the account. The meaning of the saying seems clear enough, though its origin is unknown. It means that all will be swept away, that is, punished or destroyed. The word would in this construction in English indicates that what the sentence refers to has not actually happened (and it may not happen); it will only apply if some person does what the first part of the verse warns against. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates this sentence literally and has a footnote explaining the figure: “[that is] everything.” The Septuagint translates “the sinner will be destroyed together with the sinless,” and Good News Translation has “That would destroy all of you, good and evil alike.” The Contemporary English Version translation is more general, with “cause the rest of Israel to be punished along with you.” In languages that do not use the passive, we may say “that will cause them [unknown people] to destroy all of you, good and evil people alike.”

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 .