When you are in tribulation: “When you are in trouble,” “When you are suffering [or, being mistreated].” This still refers to their exile.

All these things come upon you: these things are their deportation, their loss of freedom, and eventual idolatry.

In the latter days: in some contexts this phrase has the technical sense of the time when God will intervene forcibly into human affairs and establish his rule over the world (the Septuagint translation favors this interpretation). Here, however, it is more likely that the phrase refers to a decisive turning point in the future (see Ezek 38.8, 16; Hos 3.5). Revised English Bible has “in days to come”; Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “finally.” It should be noted that this phrase goes with what is before, not with what follows.

You will return to the LORD your God: they will once more acknowledge Yahweh as their God and worship and serve him alone. Contemporary English Version has “you may finally decide that you want to worship only the LORD.”

Obey his voice: the verb can be translated “hear” or “listen to”; here “hear” means to heed, or obey.

It is possible to combine verses 29 and 30 as follows:

• When you are there [or, in that land] and the time comes when you will endure all kinds of trouble, you may then decide to turn back to the LORD your God and obey him. If at that time you pray to him wholeheartedly, he will answer you [or, come and help 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 .