Jeremiah 36:7

36:7 Perhaps then they will ask the Lord for mercy and will all stop doing the evil things they have been doing. ¹  For the Lord has threatened to bring great anger and wrath against these people.” ² 

Jeremiah 37:20

37:20 But now please listen, your royal Majesty, ³  and grant my plea for mercy. ⁴  Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.” ⁵ 

[36:7]  ¹ tn Heb “will turn each one from his wicked way.”

[36:7]  ² tn Heb “For great is the anger and the wrath which the Lord has spoken against this people.” The translation uses the more active form which is more in keeping with contemporary English style.

[37:20]  ³ tn Heb “My lord, the king.”

[37:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “let my plea for mercy fall before you.” I.e., let it come before you and be favorably received (= granted; by metonymical extension).

[37:20]  ⁵ tn Or “So that I will not die there,” or “or I will die there”; Heb “and I will not die there.” The particle that introduces this clause (וְלֹא) regularly introduces negative purpose clauses after the volitive sequence (אַל [’al] + jussive here) according to GKC 323 §109.g. However, purpose and result clauses in Hebrew (and Greek) are often indistinguishable. Here the clause is more in the nature of a negative result.