Ah Lord GOD: See 1.6.

It is thou: In Hebrew thou is emphatic. Translators can say “you are the one who” or “it was you who.” But translators should not use an unnatural expression or one that places too much emphasis on the expression.

As elsewhere, the heavens refers to the sky. See 2.12.

Outstretched arm: As in 27.5, the expression is used of God’s power in creation, while elsewhere it has to do with his deeds of salvation (verse 21; Exo 6.6; Deut 4.34). In 21.5 a similar phrase is used of punishment. In some languages it may be difficult to find two different words for God’s power (“great power and might” in Good News Translation). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “by your great power, in making use of [or, deploying] your strength.”

Nothing is too hard for thee: Hard is literally “wonderful.” See Gen 18.14. Here the modern versions mostly use either “difficult” or “impossible.” In some languages the natural expression is “Nothing is too hard for you to do.”

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 .