Some translations connect this verse with the previous paragraph, while others join it to what follows. In Good News Translation it appears as a separate paragraph.

Translators who are following the outline of Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch in this section (see verse 4) will have a section heading here before verse 13; for example, “The people should have no false hopes” or “There is no reason [for the people] to hope.”

When I would gather them may be interpreted in one of two ways, depending upon the manner in which the vowels are placed in the Hebrew text:
(1) The meaning may be gather or “harvest” in a good sense of the word, which seems to be the intention of Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and An American Translation.
(2) If the LORD is understood as pronouncing judgment upon the people, then the meaning may be rendered negatively: “take away their harvest” (New International Version), “destroy them utterly” (Moffatt), “be done with them” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), and “put a definite end to them” (Hebrew Old Testament Text Project).

Translations that follow the first interpretation will have a rendering such as “When I wanted to gather my people to me.” Good News Translation makes the comparison quite clear: “I wanted to gather my people, as a farmer gathers a harvest.” Bible en français courant is slightly different: “If I want to harvest something of theirs.”

If the first of the two interpretations described above is followed, then the next three lines (there are … are withered) must be understood of what the LORD found when he went to gather his people. This could be rendered “but I found no grapes [to harvest] on the vines, and no figs left on the fig trees. Even all the leaves had dried up.”

If the second interpretation is accepted, then the following three lines become an explanation of the reason for the LORD’s judgment against his people: “for I found there were no grapes on the vine….” Or it can be the result of the LORD’s action, as in “When I cut down my people [like a harvester reaping], there will be no grapes left on the vines, no figs on the trees; even the leaves will be dried up.” For vine see 2.21, and for fig tree see 5.17.

And what I gave them has passed away from them: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, this is unclear in Hebrew. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project indicates that the meaning should be taken to be either “I gave them a good harvest, but it escaped from them” or “I gave them laws, but they disobeyed them.” Both Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Good News Translation interpret the text otherwise: “Therefore, I have given these people up; their enemies will trample them underfoot!” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) and “Therefore, I have allowed outsiders to take over the land” (Good News Translation).

In the translation of this verse, it would seem advisable to note that the Hebrew is unclear.

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 .