Good News Translation makes the intent of If they are prophets clear with “If they are really prophets.”

If the word of the LORD is with them is rendered “if they have the word of the LORD” by Revised English Bible. Good News Translation shifts to a first person reference to the LORD and translates “if they have my message.” It could also be expressed “if they really have a message from the LORD.”

Let them intercede with the LORD … that the vessels … may not go to Babylon: The meaning of this construction is “let them pray to the LORD … that he will not allow the treasures … to be taken away to Babylonia.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch effectively renders the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD as “the few treasures which are yet in the temple.” Although the text has and in Jerusalem, this could make it seem like there are some vessels in addition to the ones in the temple and palace. The vessels being referred to are all in the temple and royal palace, both of which are in Jerusalem, so translators can simply say “the temple and royal palace in Jerusalem,” or they may drop the phrase, as in Good News Translation. For may not go to Babylon, it may be better to render “may not be taken to Babylonia” or “that the Babylonians may not take them off.”

Another way to express the last half of the verse is:

• they should pray to the LORD Almighty that no one will take to Babylonia the few utensils that are still left in the temple and in the royal palace.

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 .