Thus says the LORD: See 2.2.

The God of hosts: See 2.19.

Princes is better rendered “officials.” See 1.18.

If you will surrender to the princes of the king of Babylon: This clause may need to be expressed differently in some languages. Even though If indicates a condition, Jeremiah is really giving advice. Translators can have “You should surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon.”

Your life shall be spared: Life is the same word rendered “souls” and “life” in verse 16. The passive construction here can be rendered active: “they will spare you life.”

Burned with fire: See 34.2; 37.8. Many languages will require an agent for the burning, as in “They [or, The Babylonian army] will not burn down this city.”

You and your house is better rendered “you and your family.”

Shall live is “will be spared” in Good News Translation. Others have said “will be allowed to live.”

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 .