This verse naturally links with verses 21-23, which is probably the reason that in the Septuagint verses 16-20 are lacking. Since there is no textual evidence for the omission of verses 16-20 (other than the Septuagint), the verses are best retained in their present order and verse 15 made into an independent sentence. Bible en français courant, in fact, makes the verse into a separate paragraph: “The Lord says all these things to you because you claim that he has given you prophets in Babylonia.” Then verses 16-19 form a separate paragraph as does verse 20, which is then followed by another paragraph (verses 21-23). This is a good solution; but other translators have dropped the word Because, and said, “You have said [or, You may say] ‘The LORD has given us prophets in Babylonia.’ ” Verse 16 could then begin a new paragraph or start with “But.”

Raised up … for us can be “given to us,” similar to Good News Translation.

Babylon is the nation (Good News Translation “Babylonia”), rather than the city.

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 .