The vivid language in this verse should be preserved in translation, if it makes sense.

The head … the tail: that is, “in first place … in last place,” in terms of prosperity, power, and prestige. So Good News Translation has “will make you the leader among the nations and not the follower” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Tend upward only, and not downward: this means to increase, to go forward, to become even more prosperous, and never the contrary. So “you will always prosper and never fail” (Good News Translation), and “Israel will be wealthy and powerful, not poor and weak” (Contemporary English Version).

For the rest of the verse, see the same language in verse 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 .