Is stubborn and rebellious: the same words used in verse 18.

He will not obey our voice: as in verse 18.

A glutton and a drunkard: see the same phrase in Pro 23.20-21. Some take the Hebrew noun translated glutton to mean “spendthrift” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “wastrel” (Revised English Bible); New International Version has “profligate”; Good News Translation has “wastes money and is a drunkard.” There is no way to be sure which is better; a term like glutton fits in nicely with drunkard; a glutton is someone who eats too much food, while a drunkard is someone who drinks too much wine. If there aren’t exact technical terms available, we may translate “He eats too much food and drinks too much wine.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

All who do such things, all who act dishonestly: the second clause refers to the same set of people as the first clause. The two may be brought together as follows: “all who do such dishonest things,” or “all who cheat or are dishonest.”

An abomination to the LORD your God: see 7.25; 18.12; 22.5.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Cursed be the man: or “God will punish the person.” See also the comment on “curse” at 11.26.

A graven or molten image: see 4.16 and 9.12, 16; also 5.8; Exo 20.4. New International Version “carves an image or casts an idol” better represents the meaning than Revised Standard Version; Good News Translation also makes it quite clear: “makes an idol of stone, wood, or metal.” We may also say “makes a likeness of a false god out of stone, ….”

An abomination to the LORD: Good News Translation has “The LORD hates idolatry,” and Contemporary English Version has “The LORD is disgusted with idols.” See also 7.25.

Made by the hands of a craftsman: unless the language requires it, “the hands of” can be dispensed with in translation, since the maker (the man, or “anyone”) has been mentioned in the first sentence (see Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Sets it up in secret: this does not mean that God’s curse will not apply if this is done in public. It is simply a way of stating the obvious: very few Israelites would worship idols publicly. Good News Translation “worships” emphasizes the reason why an Israelite would make an idol, and is a legitimate translation of the text.

All the people: this means the people of all twelve tribes, not only the six tribes on Mount Ebal.

Amen: a way of affirming the truth of the statement. Its sense is “So be it,” “It is so,” or “We agree!”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Madness, blindness, and confusion of mind: all three of these terms are found also in Zech 12.4, where they are the consequences of war. Here they may refer more to mental and psychological disorders. Madness means “to become insane,” “lose your mind,” or “have a twisted mind.” Most languages will have suitable terms for this condition.

Blindness is loss of sight.

Confusion of mind is literally “numbness of heart” (it occurs only here and in Zech 12.4). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “dismay,” while Good News Translation has “confusion” (similarly Contemporary English Version). In many languages an expression similar to the Hebrew will be appropriate; for example, “make your minds [or, hearts] numb [or without feeling].”

Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje may prove useful as a model: “The LORD will punish you, causing you to become insane, blind, and confused.”

An alternative translation model for this verse may be:

• Yahweh will cause you to lose your minds. He will make you become blind and cause your hearts to be numb [or, confused].

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Would it were evening! … Would it were morning! Or “I wish it were day … I wish it were night” (Contemporary English Version). See similar statements in Job 7.4.

The dread which your heart shall fear: they will be filled with fear, with no relief as they look to the future. The vivid language in Good News Translation, “Your hearts will pound with fear,” will be a good model for many translators.

The sights which your eyes shall see: all about them they will see the terrible conditions to which all the Israelites have been subjected.

Translators are urged to examine Good News Translation as a possible model. Contemporary English Version also has a good model:

• Every morning you will wake up to such terrible sights that you will say, “I wish it were night!” And at night you will be terrified and say, “I wish it were day!”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Restore your fortunes: this expression may be translated “bring you back from captivity” (New International Version alternative rendering, in footnote). But the majority of translations give the sense it has in Revised Standard Version, that is, deliver them from their misery and humiliation and make them a prosperous people again. In essence the two variant translations mean the same thing. Contemporary English Version has “Then he will stop punishing you”; but another possible translation is “He will make you prosperous again” (Good News Translation).

Have compassion: see 13.17.

Gather you again from all the peoples: this presupposes that the Israelites will be scattered among many nations.

Scattered: see 4.27.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

When I have brought them: or better, “After I have taken them.”

Land flowing with milk and honey: see 6.3.

Which I swore to give to their fathers: see 1.8.

They have eaten and are full and grown fat: these are metaphors for becoming prosperous, wealthy, and complacent. See 6.10-11; 8.12.

They will turn to other gods and serve them: see verses 16, 18.

Despise me: to “reject” (Good News Translation), or “turn their backs on me” (Contemporary English Version); see Num 14.11, 23.

Break my covenant: as in verse 16, the fuller form is better: “break the covenant [or, agreement] I made with them.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .