Horror is the same word translated “waste” in 2.15. Consequently, translators can put either “land of horror” or “desolate land.”

A thing to be hissed at for ever: The act of hissing is either an expression of horror or else a sound made to ward off any demons that may be present in the ruins. Translators then have three ways to consider in rendering the expression: (1) Simply translate without including the interpretation, as in “the land is something that causes people to hiss.” If hissing has some particular meaning in the translator’s language, this solution might not be appropriate. (2) Accept hissing as a sign of horror, as in “people will hiss in horror” or “people will be horrified.” (3) Accept hissing as a way of keeping the demons away, as in “people who pass will forever hiss in fear of the demons” or “it will always be a place of fear [of demons].”

Similarly, shakes his head may be an action of contempt, of horror or of dread. Translators can say “shake their heads” or “shake their heads in horror [or, in fear].”

In Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch the entire verse is rendered:

• The land is so devastated that every one who passes by is astonished and trembles with fear and horror.

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 .