This verse continues with the people of Israel speaking.

Turned away is the same verb used in verse 18, where it was translated “bring back” and “restored.” “Turned away” is a more natural translation here.

Repented is first used in 4.28, where it is rendered “relented” (see there).

Was instructed is more literally “made myself know” or “was known.” The verb is used in Jeremiah numerous times in a wide variety of meanings. New Jerusalem Bible has “having understood.” By extension, translators can interpret “understand” to refer to self-understanding, that is, being aware of your guilt. For example, Bible en français courant has “You made us aware of our guilt.” Or it can refer to being aware that the LORD understands or knows the person, as in New Revised Standard Version “I was discovered.” The rendering of Revised English Bible (“I am submissive”) represents the sense of a related Arabic verb rather than the Hebrew.

I smote upon my thigh is an expression of extreme grief (see Ezek 21.12). A number of translations attempt to represent the sense by “I beat upon my breast” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). If the symbolism will not be understood, translators can add the meaning, as in “I beat my thigh in grief.” In this case, there is no need to substitute the act with one from the translator’s culture; for example, beating the breast or hanging the head. Good News Translation attempts to render the force of the previous verb and of the symbolic action as “After you had punished us, we hung our heads in grief.”

Was confounded is here used in parallel with was ashamed. The verb is also used in 3.3, where Revised Standard Version translates “be ashamed.” In 8.12 it is rendered “blush” and in 22.22 (where it is used in parallel with the verb here rendered be ashamed) it is rendered “confounded.” The intensive form of the verb is found in 6.15 (Revised Standard Version “blush”), while still another form is used in 14.3, where Revised Standard Version translates “confounded” and it is also in parallel with “ashamed.” Since the two terms are so close in meaning, translators should choose two words from their own language which convey the meaning. Examples in English are “humiliated,” “dishonored,” and “remorseful.”

Because I bore the disgrace of my youth represents the rendering of most modern versions. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “My youth was a disgrace, and I bear the consequences” and Good News Translation “because we sinned when we were young.”

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 .