It is the shepherds (or kings) who are speaking here, hence “They will say” of Good News Translation.

Prepare war is literally “Sanctify war,” reflecting the ancient belief that war was a sacred religious act, to be accompanied by appropriate ceremonies. Translators may render this “Prepare for battle against Jerusalem” or “Get ready to attack it.”

Up in these verses is literally “Rise up” or “Arise.” It can be translated as “Get up” or “Get ready.”

Let us attack at noon … let us attack by night: These expressions indicate the eagerness with which the enemy soldiers wished to attack Jerusalem. Warfare would normally be initiated in the morning hours, in hopes that the heat of the day could be avoided. But Jerusalem’s enemies are so determined to attack the city that they are willing to go at any time, even in the heat of the sun or in the darkness of night.

To retain Woe to us of the text would for many readers make it seem that the attackers were afraid they were going to be defeated. But what they are upset about is that it’s too late in the day to get in a good fight. Something like “What bad luck!” (Bible en français courant) is therefore better.

The day declines can be expressed as “It’s getting late in the day.”

The last part of verse 4, Woe to us … lengthen, appears in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch as “Too late! There is not enough time, it will soon be dark!”

Palaces is rendered “fortresses” by Good News Translation. The best parallel in meaning to the present passage is Amos 1.4–2.5, where Revised Standard Version translates the word in its several occurrences as “strongholds.” Elsewhere the word is used by Jeremiah in similar contexts in 17.27; 49.27.

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 .