In many languages it would not be natural to have a passive such as A voice … is heard, or even the Good News Translation “A noise is heard.” It may be better to say “people will hear a noise … It is [the sound of] the people of Israel weeping and pleading….”

The bare heights: See 3.2. This can be rendered “the bare hilltops” or simply “the hilltops.”

In the very place where the fertility gods were worshiped, the people of Israel will be heard weeping and pleading. Many languages need an object of pleading, and will follow Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Revised English Bible with “pleading for mercy.”

Israel’s sons does not mean just the young men of Israel. “People of Israel” is certainly clearer.

Perverted their way is translated “gone wildly astray” by New Jerusalem Bible and “have lived sinful lives” by Good News Translation. It may be best to place forgotten the LORD before have perverted their way: “because they have forgotten the LORD their God and have turned from the right way.”

For LORD their God, see 2.17.

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 .