The structure of this verse reveals two characteristics of the Hebrew of the Old Testament, both of which are potentially problems for other languages. First, there is the presence of the parallel between made … known to me and I knew. It is sufficient to say “The LORD informed me” (Good News Translation), though it is also possible to retain both forms if this is natural and emphatic in the translator’s language. Second, there is the shift from the third person reference to the LORD to the second person thou. Depending upon the restructuring followed, translators should maintain either a second person or a third person reference throughout the verse.

Then thou didst show me their evil deeds: Good News Translation helps the reader by identifying their as “my enemies.” It is possible also to translate “evil men.” Evil deeds is literally “deeds,” but the context demands the meaning represented by Revised Standard Version. This line is translated “he opened my eyes to what they were doing” by Revised English Bible.

The whole verse may be translated in one of the following ways:

• It was the LORD who informed me of the evil some people were doing, so I knew it.

• The LORD informed me, so I knew what the evil people were doing.

• I knew about the evil some people were doing; it was the LORD who showed me.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .