I did not sit … nor did I rejoice is more literally “I did not sit … and [did not] rejoice.” Revised Standard Version correctly assumes that the negative not goes with both verbs (sit … rejoice), but the restructuring of Revised Standard Version makes the sentence refer to two separate events. However, the text seems to speak rather of a single event: “I did not spend my time with other people, laughing and having a good time” (Good News Translation). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar: “I could not sit happily with other people and laugh with them.” Another way to express this is “I did not spend my time with those people having a good time; I didn’t try to enjoy myself.”

I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me: In Hebrew these two clauses appear in reverse order, as is reflected in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “Because you had placed your hand upon me and isolated me.” I sat alone can be “I kept to myself” or “I stayed by myself.” Because thy hand was upon me seems to mean “because you control my life” or “because I am under your authority.”

For thou hadst filled me with indignation: For here is parallel to because in the previous line. Jeremiah was filled … with indignation toward the people. For indignation see the comment at 10.10. Another way to render the last two lines is “Since I am under your authority, I kept to myself as I was filled with anger toward the people.”

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 .