Each of the two questions contained in this verse expects a positive reply. Thus it may be more natural to use a strong statement: “I will surely….”

Punish translates a verb that has a wide range of meaning, including the one suggested here. It can also be “to deal severely with,” as in Traduction œcuménique de la Bible.

Says the LORD: See 1.8.

Shall I not avenge myself is more literally “shall my soul not avenge itself.” But, as is frequently the case in biblical Hebrew, “soul” is used as the equivalent of the person. The same combination of verbs (“punish … avenge myself”) is also found in verse 29 and 9.9. Translators can say “I will surely take my revenge on a nation like this one.”

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 .