The land trembles and writhes in pain: Similar language is used elsewhere in the Old Testament for what happens when the God of Israel comes to attack his enemies; see Jdg 5.4, for example. The Hebrew text simply has that the land trembles and shakes (or, writhes), and quite a few versions have “in fear” instead of in pain. For trembles see 8.16, where Revised Standard Version has “quakes.” For writhes in pain, see 5.22, where Revised Standard Version has “tremble.”

The LORD’s purposes … a desolation without inhabitant may be compressed as “the LORD is determined to make Babylonia an uninhabited desert.” For desolation see 2.15, where Revised Standard Version has “waste.”

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 .