Why have I seen it? is a literal rendering of the Hebrew, which scholars and translations prefer to render as “But what do I see?” (Bright, Good News Translation). Since the LORD is now speaking, Good News Translation expresses this by adding “asks the LORD.” The Hebrew also indicates that the LORD is the speaker by putting says the LORD at the end of verse 5. Some translators find it more natural to begin the verse with “But the LORD asks, ‘What do I see?’ ”

The answer to the question is found in the remainder of this verse. The essence of this answer is that the Egyptian army breaks ranks and runs for safety.

They are dismayed and have turned backward: They are dismayed, normally rendered “They are discouraged” or “They are afraid” (see 1.17), is translated “With broken ranks” by New American Bible and “They are broken” by Revised English Bible. Have turned backward is usually “they are fleeing” or “they are in retreat.” Both Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible combine dismayed with turned backward and reverse the order of the terms: “They are turning back in terror” (Good News Translation); “retreating, panic-stricken” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Their warriors are beaten down: Warriors is literally “mighty ones” (see 5.16), a term frequently used of soldiers or heroes. The warriors are beaten down, that is, “defeated.”

Have fled in haste may be rendered “run away as fast as they can.”

Terror on every side: This is a favorite expression of Jeremiah’s (see 6.25; 20.3, 10; 49.29). In order to avoid the abstract expression, Good News Translation renders it as “overcome with fear.” Translators can also say, for example, “On all sides are things which terrify them.”

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

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 .