Executes justice for the fatherless and widows: this does not only mean that God is impartial in applying the law to orphans and widows, but that God actively takes their side. Another way to express this is “Makes sure that … are treated fairly” (Good News Translation). Orphans and widows were the people with the least power in that society, and they were easily exploited by unscrupulous people. Bible en français courant has “He defends the rights of orphans and widows” (see also Contemporary English Version). The Hebrew word translated as fatherless by Revised Standard Version and “orphan” by many other translations refers to “a child without a father.” In languages that distinguish between “orphan,” a child who has lost both parents, and “fatherless,” a child who has lost only the father, the translator should choose “fatherless.” Otherwise “orphan” may be used.

The sojourner: this means “resident aliens,” foreigners who lived with the Israelites. Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje has “the foreigners who live among us,” and Good News Translation “the foreigners who live with our people.” We may note that this reference makes more sense in a context where the people are already settled in the land of Canaan.

Giving him food and clothing: it is better to use the plural form, “the foreigners who live in our land; he gives them food and clothing.”

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 .