But my people have forgotten me: The term rendered But introduces a strong contrast to what is in verse 14. In this context have forgotten me means something like “have turned away from me” or “have rejected me.”

For burn incense, see 1.16.

False gods is translated “idols” by Good News Translation and Revised English Bible. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “gods who are nothing.” New American Bible has “a thing that does not exist.” The noun itself means something that is “worthless” or “deceitful.” It is frequently used in an adverbial construction meaning “in vain” (see Jer 2.30; 4.30; 6.29; 46.11). Translators can also say “worthless idols.”

Stumbled is the rendering of several ancient versions; Hebrew has “they made them stumble” (Revised Standard Version note). If the Hebrew text is followed, as Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends, then the meaning may be “They [the false gods] made them [the people of Israel] stumble.” New International Version, for example, has “worthless idols, which make them stumble in their ways.”

The ancient roads and the highway would be the route marked out for Israel by the LORD. Instead of going the LORD’s way, they went off into bypaths (that is, the way of the Canaanite religions). Since ancient roads and highway are both referring to the LORD’s way, translators may be able to restructure the last four lines slightly, as in “The worthless idols have caused them to stumble and get away from the ways of old. Instead of following the good road, they have gone along the poor paths” or “… have caused them to stumble. They no longer follow the good ways they knew before, but have followed paths that lead nowhere.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “Led astray by them [the false gods], they stumbled along the way; they even abandoned the road and went astray.”

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 .