Thou in thy great mercies didst not forsake them in the wilderness: In Hebrew the verse begins with “But you” (so Good News Translation), marking a contrast as in verse 17 above. This may be translated “But as for you” or “But for your part.” The contrast is with what was stated in verse 18. God’s great mercies contrast sharply with the people’s “great blasphemies.” Although these two phrases have the same adjective great in Revised Standard Version, the Hebrew uses two different though nearly synonymous adjectives. God’s response to the idolatry of the Israelites was to continue to provide for their needs in the same way as before. Because of his great mercies he did not abandon his people. For a comment on “merciful,” see verse 17 above. This is the first of four times in this prayer that God’s mercies are referred to, three times with the adjective great (verses 19, 27, 31) and once without the adjective (verse 28). Revised Standard Version retains the plural of the Hebrew, while Good News Translation renders it in the singular in more natural English. New International Version and Segond say “your great compassion,” and Bible en français courant translates “your infinite love.”

Wilderness was land that was not inhabited by people. It did not have good soil that could be farmed, but there was some vegetation where wild animals and also domestic animals could graze. In the Bible it is often referred to as desert as in Good News Translation even though it was not all sand and barren rock. Here it refers to the area of the Sinai Peninsula where the Israelites wandered for forty years before God allowed them to enter the promised land (see Deut 2). The translator should use a term that refers to bare land without trees, a land with scrub bushes, or uninhabited and uncultivated territory.

Pillar of cloud … pillar of fire …: See verse 12 above.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .