Notice that verses 4-5 are one sentence. However, there are better ways of rearranging the material than the one followed by Revised Standard Version (which is difficult to read aloud effectively); see Good News Translation. It is also possible to combine verses 4 and 5 (see the alternative translation model at the end of verse 6).

But there will be no poor among you: this initial statement is explained by two further comments. These are that (1) the LORD will bless the people, and (2) the people must obey the LORD’s commands (verse 3).

There will be no poor among you: in light of the contradictory statement in verse 11, the affirmation here is not absolute, but dependent on the people’s faithful obedience to Yahweh’s commands. Poor will be expressed in a number of languages as “a person with few possessions.”

The LORD will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess: this is frequently stressed, and these terms appear many times in this book. The verb will bless is in a compound form, which makes for an emphatic statement: “he will surely bless you.” For a comment on the translation of bless, see 1.11. For the LORD your God see 1.6. For the terms inheritance and possess, see 1.8, 35. This sentence may be placed at the end of verse 5 (see the alternative model at the end of the comments on verse 6).

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 .

From the third person at the end of verse 18, referring to judges and officers, the narrative switches to the second person (singular), addressing the people as a whole. It may be better to keep in this verse the third person plural of verse 18b, as Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje does, since it deals with the duties of the judges and officers in particular. However, Contemporary English Version offers the alternative “Those of you that become judges.”

You shall not pervert justice: there are various ways to speak of the miscarriage of justice. This is a general rule that can be expressed in a positive way: “Justice is to be administered fairly and equitably”; or “Justice is to be administered without fear or favor”; or even “They must judge [or, rule] fairly.”

You shall not show partiality: this is one particular form of miscarriage of justice; it is not being impartial, but favoring one person over the other. See “righteous judgment” in the previous verse.

You shall not take a bribe: there are many vivid expressions for bribery; for example, Spanish mordida, “bite.”

A bribe blinds the eyes of the wise: this expression is used in a figurative sense; it has to do with moral judgment. “A bribe makes it difficult for a wise judge to hand down the right decision.” Another possible translation is “A bribe makes a wise judge close his eyes to what is right.”

Subverts the cause of the righteous: that is, the cause (or, case) of an innocent person on trial is subverted when judges accept bribes. Subverts means to undermine or weaken (the cause of justice). So Good News Translation has “and cause them to give wrong decisions.”

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 .

This verse instructs the people on how they are to deal with a false prophet, that is, a person who claims to be speaking for Yahweh but who in fact is not. Any Israelite who spoke in the name of other gods would not be simply a false prophet but an apostate, a betrayer of the faith.

Presumes to speak: the verb is equivalent to the adjective “presumptuous” (see 1.43; 17.13), meaning to be “arrogant,” “conceited.” Good News Translation has “dares to speak.”

A word in my name: or “a message from me” (Contemporary English Version).

That same prophet shall die: this means that such a person must be executed. So “he must die for it” (Good News Translation), or “You must kill that person.”

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 .

The LORD your God gives it into your hand: the surrender of the Canaanites is God’s doing. Good News Translation has “Then, when the LORD your God lets you capture the city, …” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Put all the males to the sword: put … to the sword is an idiom that means “kill.” All adult males who might fight are to be killed at once. In many languages “kill all the males” or “kill every man in the town” will be natural ways to render this (see 13.15).

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 .

To a foreigner: interest could be charged on loans made to non-Israelites, (and they did not have to be released from debt in the seventh year; see 15.3). The interest was paid in advance of the loan.

That the LORD your God may bless you in all you undertake: see 12.7 and 15.10.

The land which you are entering to take possession of it: see 7.1.

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 .

We cried to the LORD: the sense is that they protested, they prayed in anguish and pain to the LORD to rescue them.

The God of our fathers: again the sense is “our ancestors.” This is usually a reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In some languages direct speech will be used for the first part of this verse: “We called out to Yahweh the God our ancestors worshiped, saying, ‘Please help us!’ ”

The LORD heard our voice: that is, the LORD heard our prayers, our cries, our protests.

Saw our affliction … toil … oppression: again three terms that are similar in meaning are used to stress the desperate nature of their situation. Here Good News Translation uses three terms: “our suffering, hardship, and misery.” Contemporary English Version has only two: “we were in trouble and abused.” Another possible model for the final part of this verse is “He heard our cries for help, and saw how miserable we were as the Egyptians oppressed us and made us work hard.”

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 .

Slays his neighbor in secret: the secret nature of the crime is made clear here, since no such curse is needed when the murderer is known. See the procedure laid out in 21.1-9. Contemporary English Version has “anyone who commits murder, even when there are no witnesses to the crime.” For “murder” see 5.17.

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 .