For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!”: Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch restructures the first part of this verse to say “Because of you I must often denounce injustice. ‘Violence!’ I have to call out, ‘Destruction!’ ” It is possible that the last part of line 1 is parallel to line 2, as in “I cry out ‘Violence!’ ‘Destruction!’ I shout.” Whenever then would govern speak, cry out, and shout, with the meaning being “Every time I speak, cry out ‘Violence!’ or shout ‘Destruction!’ [then] the word of the LORD….”

Violence may have to be rendered “There is violence” or “People are doing violence [or, acting violently].” But it is very unclear who has done the violence, and who it was committed against. Is Jeremiah referring to the violent acts of the people? To the way God is going to punish them? Or even to the way he (Jeremiah) suffers because he delivers the LORD’s message? It is not clear, and if possible translators should not try to give an answer. If the language absolutely requires an agent, then perhaps something such as “Violent people will come” or “You will suffer violence” can be used.

Likewise, destruction may be “There is destruction” or “Everything is being destroyed.” Only if it is absolutely necessary in their language should translators put “People who will destroy you will come” or “You will be destroyed.” For both Violence and destruction, see 6.7.

For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach: This may be restructured, as in Good News Translation “LORD, I am ridiculed … because I proclaim your message.” The Hebrew noun rendered reproach first occurs in 6.10, where Revised Standard Version renders “object of scorn.” It is used numerous times elsewhere throughout the book of Jeremiah.

The word derision is found elsewhere in the Old Testament only in Psa 44.13 (“scorn” in Revised Standard Version); 79.4 (where it is found in combination with a noun derived from the verb rendered “mocks” in verse 7 as “mocked and ridiculed” in Revised Standard Version). A related noun is found in Ezek 22.4 (“mocking” in Revised Standard Version), while a verb from the same root occurs in 2Kgs 2.23 (“jeered” in Revised Standard Version); Ezek 16.31 (“scorned” in Revised Standard Version); 22.5 (“mock” in Revised Standard Version); Hab 1.10 (“scoff” in Revised Standard Version). It can be expressed here as “scorned” (so Good News Translation) or “treated as if I were ridiculous.”

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 .