Do not thy eyes look for truth represents “Your eyes [are they] not for truth” of the Hebrew. For the possible meanings of truth, see verse 1. Good News Translation removes the difficult negative question form and translates “Surely the LORD looks for faithfulness.” Bible en français courant removes the figurative language: “Lord, that which interests you, isn’t it an honest life?”

Smitten, a verb form rarely used in modern English, translates a Hebrew verb that means “strike” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “strike … down” (New English Bible).

The verb translated felt … anguish may mean either “feel pain” (so most translations) or “pay attention” (see Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Scholarly opinion is divided, and translators may follow either approach.

Consumed would normally be taken in the sense of “destroyed completely,” though the context is against this meaning. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “You have almost destroyed them.” Of course, speaking in hyperbole (exaggeration) is quite common in the prophets; so if it will be understood as exaggeration by readers, many translators will retain “destroyed completely.”

Refused to take correction may be stated in a number of different ways; for example, “refused to learn” (Revised English Bible, Good News Translation) and “ignored the lesson” (New Jerusalem Bible). Compare 2.30.

Faces harder than rock is retained in its literal form by most translations. Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch render it with the meaning of “stubbornness,” which seems also to be the intention of Moffatt: “they hardened themselves like a flint.”

They have refused to repent explains just how stubborn the people really are. The verb translated repent literally means “turn,” and it may be interpreted to mean either “turn from your sins” (Good News Translation) or “turn to you [the Lord]” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). In reality both are involved, though the focus would seem to be upon turning to the LORD. Thus the sentence can also be translated “They have refused to change” or “they have refused to come back to you.”

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 .