Verses 25-26 are in prose and form a commentary on the previous poetic section. They are firstly a statement of the LORD’s threat against Egypt and then his promise that it will again prosper.

The LORD of hosts: See 2.19.

Behold: See 1.6.

Amon of Thebes: Thebes was the capital city of northern (lower) Egypt, and Amon was its chief god. Hence Good News Translation has “Amon, the god of Thebes.”

Pharaoh is a title for the king of Egypt (see 25.19). It is used twice in the verse, and some translations simply drop the second occurrence. But others are closer to the example of Good News Translation, which introduces a second sentence to account for those who trust in him.

For gods see 1.16.

Bassa in Liberia offers a model for translation of the quote in this verse:

• Look, I will punish Amon who is the god of the Egyptians in the city of Thebes and their other gods and the whole land of Egypt and its king and its big government officials and all those who trust in the Egyptian king.

Another possible model is:

• I am going to punish the god Amon of the city Thebes, and also the Egyptian king [or, the Pharaoh], all of Egypt, and her gods and kings. Yes, I will punish the Pharaoh and all who are dependent on him.

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 .