The Hebrew text does not use quotation marks, and so it is possible to interpret verse 10 as either a continuation of Jeremiah’s words (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or as a part of the message spoken to Jeremiah by the LORD (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant). If the latter is the case, then For is a transition explaining why the LORD says Jeremiah’s heart is broken in the previous verse. But if Jeremiah is speaking here now, as in Good News Translation, then in most languages the transition is not needed.

Full of adulterers: See 3.9 and the discussion on “harlot” in 2.20; the reference is to Israel’s unfaithfulness to the LORD. It is used frequently as a figure, but at times it also actually involved the people in adulterous relationships with the priests and priestesses of the Canaanite fertility cults. However, it is better to emphasize the aspect of being unfaithful to the LORD, as Good News Translation has, than to translate adulterers literally.

The curse is what is found in the Hebrew text; it is followed by most translations and recommended by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. Revised English Bible has “them,” which represents the consonants of the Hebrew text with different vowels. Note that Good News Translation makes it clear that it is the LORD who has placed the curse on the land.

The land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up: The worship of the fertility deities, rather than being a productive endeavor, leads to drought and the loss of a harvest. The land mourns, except for the tense of the verb, is the same expression used in 4.28; 12.4. In some languages, better than saying the land mourns, translators may need to say “the people of this land are in mourning.” However, the meaning seems to be that because of the drought, the land itself is in sorry shape, so that if possible, translators should retain the literal form. See also 12.4. For pastures of the wilderness, see 9.10.

Their course is evil, and their might is not right: Course (or, “running”) is the same word used in 8.6. Good News Translation interprets Their course is evil to mean “they live wicked lives” and understands their might is not right to mean “[they] misuse their power” (New International Version “use their power unjustly”). “They” in Good News Translation thus clearly refers to the people who are unfaithful. Moreover, Good News Translation introduces these two lines immediately following For the land is full of adulterers, to make what seems to be a more logical development within the verse. However, it is equally possible that it is the prophets who are leading wicked lives and misusing their power, in which case it would not necessarily be helpful to restructure as Good News Translation has.

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 .

The first-ripe figs were a very tasty and highly prized fruit, which ripened in June on the branches of the previous year. The figs that grew on the shoots of the current year did not ripen until August. However, the contrast here is not between early and late figs, but between the best quality figs and very bad figs, that is, figs that are too poor to be eaten. Good News Translation translates first-ripe as “those that ripen early.”

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 .

The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth is best taken as a continuation of the imagery in verse 30. Note Good News Translation “Everyone on earth will hear him, 31 and the sound will echo to the ends of the earth.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “It resounds across the land as the shout of people treading grapes, and it reaches all nations, to the circle of the earth!” The expression ends of the earth simply means “everywhere on earth.” Translators should use whatever expression or idiom has that meaning in their language, as in “The noise will be heard everywhere on earth” or “People everywhere on earth will be able to hear the noise.”

The remainder of verse 31 is in the form of a court scene in which the LORD puts the nations on trial and punishes those who are guilty (compare 2.9-13).

Indictment can be translated as “lawsuit” or “case” (Good News Translation). For has an indictment against, New International Version has “will bring charges against.”

Entering into judgment with: This means, as in Good News Translation, “bring to trial.” In 2.35 the same word was translated “bring to judgment.” Some versions have “argue his case.”

All flesh refers to “all people.”

In this context put to the sword is the equivalent of “put … to death” (Good News Translation).

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

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 .

Thus the LORD said to me: This repeats information from the end of the previous verse, and may be omitted (see Good News Translation).

Thongs and yoke-bars: The thongs (leather straps) were used for tying the wooden crossbars together. As for yoke-bars, see the discussion on “yoke” under the section heading. Here translators can have something like “wooden bars for an ox [or, animal] so it can pull a cart.” For an illustration of a yoke, see 2.20.

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 .

For Behold see 1.6.

To remove … from the face of the earth is a strong way of saying that the LORD will cause Hananiah to die, as the rest of the verse makes quite clear. Translators can use whatever expression is natural in their language.

You shall die: The pronoun you is emphatic in Hebrew, but this cannot always be expressed in translation.

You have uttered rebellion against the LORD: The underlying construction is expressed by Good News Translation as “you have told the people to rebel against the LORD,” and by Bible en français courant as “you have encouraged the people to oppose the Lord.”

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 .

This verse duplicates 7.1.

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 .

Maidens is literally “virgins,” here referring to the unmarried girls of the Jewish community. See 2.32.

Shall be merry translates the Septuagint rather than the standard Hebrew text, which would mean “also” or “together with them.” There is actually very little difference in meaning with the overall meaning of the first two lines in view.

Good News Translation restructures the last two lines slightly to give a more natural rendering, moving the clause I will comfort them to the beginning of the sentence.

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 .