As spices were burned for your fathers is more literally “as the burning of your fathers.” However, a literal translation would be misleading, since cremation was not practiced by the Hebrews. The reference is to the ceremonial rite performed in conjunction with the burial of a king (see 2 Chr 16.14; 21.19). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible renders “they will burn incense for you as they burned it for your ancestors.” It may be necessary to make it clear that this is part of a funeral rite by adding “at their funerals.” Spices is often rendered “incense.” If people are not familiar with the use of spices, translators may do something similar to Bible en français courant “perfumed plants [or, plants with a sweet smell].” Fathers refers to ancestors, as in 2.5.

The former kings who were before you is redundant. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “your predecessors upon the royal throne” and Good News Translation “who were kings before you.”

So men shall burn spices for you is literally “so they [masculine] shall burn for you.” Here again the object of the verb (spices) must be indicated. As above, it may be necessary to add “at your funeral” to make it clear why people would burn incense or spices.

Lament may be rendered “mourn” (Good News Translation).

Saying: This is lacking in Hebrew, but must be supplied in translation.

Alas, lord!: This is obviously the lament that would be made at the death of a king, and it should be translated in a way that is most natural; for example, “Our king is dead!” (Good News Translation) and “O, our Lord!” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible renders “How terrible, my lord!” It is important to note that here lord refers to the king, not to God.

In the construction For I have spoken, the pronoun I is emphatic. Some translators have rendered this “It is I who have spoken.”

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

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 .