Provoke, as we indicated above, is often translated in this verse similarly to or the same as “provoke to anger” in verse 18.

In place of the rhetorical question (Is it I whom they provoke?), it may be better to substitute a strong statement: “But I am not really the one they are hurting.” In Hebrew the pronouns I and themselves are emphatic.

For says the LORD, see 1.8.

To their own confusion is more literally “to the shame of their faces,” which is generally translated as “to their own shame” or “which brings shame on them instead.” Thus Good News Translation drops the negative rhetorical question (Is it not themselves…?) and shifts to a statement as follows: “No, they are hurting themselves and bringing shame on themselves.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch places verses 19-20 together as a unit, and alters the negative rhetorical question to a strong statement: “They shame only themselves!”

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 .