For is a weak transition here and can be dropped in some languages.

Behold: See 1.6.

I will make you small among the nations: Although New Jerusalem Bible takes this as a reference to size (“I shall reduce you to the smallest of nations”), it more probably refers to importance, as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “I will make you least among nations.” Good News Translation takes this as a reference to strength: “The LORD is going to make you weak.” As discussed at verse 14, you refers to Edom, and translators may need to say “Edom, I will make you one of the least important of the nations.”

Despised among men: This may have to be changed to a subject plus verb construction, as in Good News Translation “and no one will respect you.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, which places verses 15-16 together, renders this verse as follows:

• I will make you the smallest of nations; all the world will despise you!

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 .