Whether it is good or evil is ambiguous in Revised Standard Version. The meaning is rather “Whether we like it or not” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “Whether it is pleasant or difficult” (New American Bible).

We will obey the voice of the LORD our God may be somewhat shortened, as in Good News Translation “we will obey the LORD our God.” Moreover, it is certainly not necessary to repeat the same heavy, unnatural clause again at the end of the sentence.

The phrase to whom we are sending you is clear in Good News Translation: “to whom we are asking you to pray.”

The last part of the verse, that it may … LORD our God, can be expressed as a separate sentence: “We will do that for we know all will go well with us if we obey the LORD.”

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 .