In this verse For simply marks a transition to a new thought, and does not indicate, for example, a causative relationship. For this reason it is often not translated.

The word translated whispering by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation may also mean “rumor” or “unkind remark.” For the first line of the verse New Jerusalem Bible has “I heard so many disparaging me” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “I hear the threatening comments of the crowd.”

Terror is on every side translates the same expression as in verse 3, where it is rendered “Terror Everywhere” by Good News Translation. However, modern versions differ greatly on how it fits into the verse. Good News Translation indicates that it is what the slanderers are saying, with “… whispering, ‘Terror is everywhere.’ ” New International Version and New Revised Standard Version are similar, and this is perhaps the best interpretation. Bible en français courant has “People are naming me ‘Terror everywhere.’ ” The Revised Standard Version text makes it an independent statement of what is happening, not something people are saying.

Denounce him! Let us denounce him! represents what most translations have done in this line. Good News Translation combines the two verbs and translates “let’s report him to the authorities!” The basis for this rendering is the observation that the verb rendered denounce has as its primary meaning “report” or “make known.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “Some say: ‘Denounce him!’ ‘Yes, we must report him!’ say the others.”

Say all my familiar friends: Familiar friends is rendered “close friends” by Good News Translation and “best friends” by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. Revised English Bible, New International Version, and New American Bible simply have “friends,” which may be the nearest equivalent of the Hebrew expression in many languages.

It is not natural in some languages to place the expression say all my familiar friends after the quotation, and translators say something like “All my close friends say, ‘Let’s denounce him to the authorities,’ as they wait for me to fall.” But Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, and New Revised Standard Version understand Denounce him! Let us denounce him! to be something else the whisperers are saying.

Good News Translation expresses watching for my fall as “wait for my downfall.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the clause as “expecting that I might lay myself open to attack.”

Deceived translates the same verb used in verse 7. Here it is usually translated as “tricked.” For Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Perhaps we can force him to make an unguarded remark.” Most translations have something such as “we can overpower him” or “we can prevail against him” for we can overcome him.

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 .