Jeremiah 27:13-15

27:13 There is no reason why you and your people should die in war ¹  or from starvation or disease! ²  That’s what the Lord says will happen to any nation ³  that will not be subject to the king of Babylon. 27:14 Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve ⁴  the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you. 27:15 For I, the Lord, affirm ⁵  that I did not send them. They are prophesying lies to you. If you ⁶  listen to them, I will drive you and the prophets who are prophesying lies out of the land and you will all die in exile.” ⁷ 

[27:13]  ¹ tn Heb “with/by the sword.”

[27:13]  ² tn Heb “Why should you and your people die…?” The rhetorical question expects the answer made explicit in the translation, “There is no reason!”

[27:13]  ³ tn Heb “…disease according to what the Lord spoke concerning the nation that…”

[27:14]  ⁴ tn The verb in this context is best taken as a negative obligatory imperfect. See IBHS 508 §31.4g for discussion and examples. See Exod 4:15 as an example of positive obligation.

[27:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “oracle of the Lord.”

[27:15]  ⁸ sn The verbs are again plural referring to the king and his royal advisers.

[27:15]  ⁹ tn Heb “…drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying lies.”