Most translations render this evil people as in Good News Translation: “These evil people.”

Refuse to hear my words is translated “refused to obey me” by Good News Translation.

Stubbornly follow their own heart: Compare 3.17. This clause is not found in the Septuagint, and it is omitted from New English Bible. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends its inclusion, and it is found in the majority of modern translations. New Revised Standard Version renders this “stubbornly follow their own will.” Translators can also say something like “stubbornly continue to do what they themselves want to do.”

For gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, see 7.6.

Shall be like this waistcloth: These evil people who have persisted in disobeying and in worshiping other gods are compared to the rotted loincloth. Good News Translation begins a new sentence here to make the verse easier to read: “So then, they will become like these….”

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 .