My anger will be kindled against them: see 29.20, 23, 27-28.

Hide my face from them: that is, God will not look on them with love and concern; he will, in effect, withdraw his help from them (see the figure in Psa 13.1; 27.9).

They will be devoured: this means they will be destroyed by God’s anger, which will “eat” them up.

Many evils and troubles will come upon them: such as famines, droughts, epidemics, and hostile enemies. Translators should use a general statement; for example, “Many terrible disasters will come upon them” (Good News Translation), or “I will send disasters and sufferings that…” (Contemporary English Version).

In that day: the day God starts punishing them (see the phrase at the beginning of the verse). The more general statement “When that happens” (Good News Translation) is not as good as “on that day.”

Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? This is not a question for information; it is a way of stating that they know their troubles are God’s punishment for their sins: God has abandoned them. So we may translate “On that day they will realize that they are suffering because I [God] have abandoned 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 .