The connector But is a transition from what the people are plotting to what Jeremiah does in response. “Then I prayed” in Good News Translation is a more natural transition in English here.

LORD of hosts: See 2.19.

Who judgest righteously is translated “you are a just judge” by Good News Translation. We may need to translate, “who judges people in a way that’s fair.”

The word triest can mean “evaluate” or “put to the test” (see Good News Translation).

The heart and the mind is literally “the kidneys and the heart.” However, in Hebrew thought the kidneys were the seat of the emotions, whereas the heart was the organ of thought and reason. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “the most secret thoughts and desires of people;” Good News Translation has “people’s thoughts and feelings,” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “feelings and thoughts” (with a footnote providing a literal rendering).

It is not clear from the text whether the LORD is evaluating the thoughts and desires of Jeremiah, of his enemies, or of all people in general. Therefore it is better to use an expression that leaves this open, as in Good News Translation “people.”

It may be better to restructure see thy vengeance upon them as “watch you take revenge on these people” (Good News Translation).

Although Revised Standard Version has to thee I have committed my cause, translators may also follow the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommendation with “I have revealed my cause to you.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, like Good News Translation, reverses the order of the last two clauses, and says, “I have placed my case in your hands and I am fully convinced: I shall yet live to see you take revenge on them!”

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 .