For plantest see 2.21.

Most translators will find they can retain the imagery of the first part of the verse, thou plantest them … bring forth fruit; but if these figures would be misunderstood, then translators can use a comparison; for example, “You established them as someone plants a tree, and they become well settled. And just as trees grow and produce fruit, so they prosper.”

Thou art near in their mouth is a Hebrew way of saying “They always speak well of you” (Good News Translation) or “Their mouth is always talking about you” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). However, one commentator argues it is better rendered “They are always saying, ‘You are near.’ ”

Heart is literally “kidneys” (see 11.20). The expression far from their heart means “they do not really care about you” (Good News Translation). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses an idiomatic expression: “but their heart is far from you.”

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 .