en_tn_lite_do_not_use/jer/21/09.md

by the sword, famine, and plague

Death by the sword refers to death in battle. Alternate translation: "in battle and by famine and plague" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

falling on his knees before

This symbolic act represents surrender. Alternate translation: "surrendering to" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)

closed in against you

"attacked you from all sides"

His life will be his loot

The word "loot" here is a metaphor for something taken away from Jerusalem after the Babylonians conquer it. This is ironic because the Babylonians would take physical objects, but although the Judeans who surrendered would not die, they would take no physical objects with them. Alternate translation: "He will escape with his life" or "He will not die, but he will lose all his possessions" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony)