Jeremiah 5:28

5:28 That is how ¹  they have grown fat and sleek. ² 

There is no limit to the evil things they do. ³ 

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 9:4

9:4 Everyone must be on his guard around his friends.

He must not even trust any of his relatives. ⁴ 

For every one of them will find some way to cheat him. ⁵ 

And all of his friends will tell lies about him.

Jeremiah 26:3

26:3 Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. ⁶  If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them ⁷  as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing. ⁸ 

Jeremiah 39:12

39:12 “Find Jeremiah ⁹  and look out for him. ¹⁰  Do not do anything to harm him, ¹¹  but do with him whatever he tells you.”

[5:28]  ¹ 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]  ² 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]  ³ tn Heb “they cross over/transgress with respect to matters of evil.”

[9:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “Be on your guard…Do not trust.” The verbs are second masculine plural of direct address and there seems no way to translate literally and not give the mistaken impression that Jeremiah is being addressed. This is another example of the tendency in Hebrew style to turn from description to direct address (a figure of speech called apostrophe).

[9:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “cheating, each of them will cheat.”

[26:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “will turn from his wicked way.”

[26:3]  ⁸ tn For the idiom and translation of terms involved here see 18:8 and the translator’s note there.

[26:3]  ⁹ tn Heb “because of the wickedness of their deeds.”

[39:12]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Get [or fetch] him.” The referent is supplied for clarity.

[39:12]  ¹¹ tn Or “take care of him”; Heb “set your eyes on him.” For the meaning of this idiom see BDB 963 s.v. שִׂים 2.c and compare 24:6 where the phrase “for good” is added.

[39:12]  ¹² tn Heb “Don’t do anything evil [= harmful] to him.”