Jeremiah 2:35

2:35 you say, ‘I have not done anything wrong,

so the Lord cannot really be angry with me any more.’

But, watch out! ¹  I will bring down judgment on you

because you say, ‘I have not committed any sin.’

Jeremiah 5:28

5:28 That is how ²  they have grown fat and sleek. ³ 

There is no limit to the evil things they do. ⁴ 

They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it.

They do not defend the rights of the poor.

Jeremiah 11:20

11:20 So I said to the Lord, ⁵ 

“O Lord who rules over all, ⁶  you are a just judge!

You examine people’s hearts and minds. ⁷ 

I want to see you pay them back for what they have done

because I trust you to vindicate my cause.” ⁸ 

Jeremiah 25:31

25:31 The sounds of battle ⁹  will resound to the ends of the earth.

For the Lord will bring charges against the nations. ¹⁰ 

He will pass judgment on all humankind

and will hand the wicked over to be killed in war.’ ¹¹ 

The Lord so affirms it! ¹² 

[2:35]  ¹ tn This is an attempt to render the Hebrew particle often translated “behold” (הִנֵּה, hinneh) in a meaningful way in this context. See further the translator’s note on the word “really” in 1:6.

[5:28]  ² tn These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation to show that this line is parallel with the preceding.

[5:28]  ³ tn The meaning of this word is uncertain. This verb occurs only here. The lexicons generally relate it to the word translated “plate” in Song 5:14 and understand it to mean “smooth, shiny” (so BDB 799 s.v. I עֶשֶׁת) or “fat” (so HALOT 850 s.v. II עֶשֶׁת). The word in Song 5:14 more likely means “smooth” than “plate” (so TEV). So “sleek” is most likely here.

[5:28]  ⁴ tn Heb “they cross over/transgress with respect to matters of evil.”

[11:20]  ³ tn The words “So I said to the Lord” are not in the text but are implicit from the context. They are supplied in the translation for clarity to show the shift in address.

[11:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “Yahweh of armies.”

[11:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “Lord of armies, just judge, tester of kidneys and heart.” The sentence has been broken up to avoid a long and complex English sentence. The translation is more in keeping with contemporary English style. In Hebrew thought the “kidneys” were thought of as the seat of the emotions and passions and the “heart” was viewed as the seat of intellect, conscience, and will. The “heart” and the “kidneys” are often used figuratively for the thoughts, emotions, motives, and drives that are thought to be seated in them.

[11:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “Let me see your retribution [i.e., see you exact retribution] from them because I reveal my cause [i.e., plea for justice] to you.”

[25:31]  ⁴ tn For the use of this word see Amos 2:2; Hos 10:14; Ps 74:23. See also the usage in Isa 66:6 which is very similar to the metaphorical usage here.

[25:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “the Lord has a lawsuit against the nations.” For usage of the term see Hos 4:1; Mic 6:2, and compare the usage of the related verb in Jer 2:9; 12:1.

[25:31]  ⁶ tn Heb “give the wicked over to the sword.”

[25:31]  ⁷ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”