In place of I in the Hebrew, several translations prefer to follow “they” of two ancient translations (New American Bible, Moffatt, An American Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This is based on the assumption that Then I said may have been introduced into this verse from 14.13, where Jeremiah does speak. If “they” is the assumed subject, then the reference would be to the false prophets. Even though Jeremiah’s overall message does promise the destruction of Jerusalem, it may well be that at some point in his ministry he expressed confusion at the terrible destruction that the LORD brought upon the city. Thus it is not necessary to assume that Jeremiah could not have said these words, and it is better to follow the Revised Standard Version text with I.

Most languages have some equivalent of Ah. It is an exclamation which, in this verse, expresses complaint, perhaps surprise as well.

Lord GOD is the same combination used in 1.6.

Utterly deceived represents a Hebrew construction that has the sense of complete deception (see Good News Translation “… completely deceived”).

This people and Jerusalem is best taken to mean “the people of Jerusalem” (Good News Translation).

Saying introduces direct speech in the text, but some translators will find it more natural to use indirect, as in “You have said that it would be well with them” (not “you” or “us” since it is reported speech). As a participle in Revised Standard Version, saying continues the sentence from the beginning of the verse. Other translations start a new sentence, opening with something like “You have said.”

The Hebrew underlying it shall be well with you is literally “you shall have peace,” hence Good News Translation “there would be peace.” But according to some commentators, when “peace” is used to refer to the peace of the community, then it most likely refers to their safety and security, so Revised Standard Version is equally appropriate.

The sword has reached their very life: Hebrew nefesh, which is normally rendered in English as “soul” (although this is not a good rendering of nefesh) or “life” can also mean “neck” or “throat” (see Psa 69.1). So Good News Translation uses a natural English idiom, “a sword is at their throats” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This expression will be dramatically clear to readers in many languages, but in others it will be helpful to drop the imagery and say “they are at the point of being killed [or, destroyed]” or “they are about to be destroyed.”

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 .