Jer 26:3 | NETfull | STEP | Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.

Jeremiah 26:3

3 Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. ^{▼▼ Heb “will turn from his wicked way.”} If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them ^{▼▼ For the idiom and translation of terms involved here see 18:8 and the translator’s note there.} ^{▼▼ The Lord is being consistent in the application of the principle laid down in Jer 18:7–8 that reformation of character will result in the withdrawal of the punishment of “uprooting, tearing down, destroying.” His prophecies of doom are conditional threats, open to change with change in behavior.} as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing. ^{▼▼ Heb “because of the wickedness of their deeds.”}