¹⁶ “‘Do not go about spreading slander^(A) among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.^(B) I am the Lord.

¹³ Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies^(A) who talk nonsense,^(B) saying things they ought not to.

¹⁴ “Our lives for your lives!”^(A) the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully^(B) when the Lord gives us the land.”

²⁷ All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him, and he told them everything the king had ordered him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had heard his conversation with the king.

²⁰ But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.^(A)”