But at the beginning of the verse marks a contrast or comparison with verse 13. The function of this verse is to indicate that the prophets of Jerusalem (representing Judah) were worse than the prophets of Samaria (representing Israel). That is why Good News Translation translates the first two lines as “But I have seen the prophets in Jerusalem do even worse.” New Living Translation has “But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse!”

A horrible thing could also be expressed as “do something horrible.”

They commit adultery is most likely to be understood literally in the present context, but being unfaithful to God by worshiping other gods is also a possible meaning. Translators can follow either.

Walk in lies is more naturally expressed as “tell lies” (Good News Translation); New English Bible has “hypocrites that they are.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses two verbs (“they lie and deceive”), which constitutes a play on words. One commentator proposes that walk in lies can mean to serve Baal, in the sense of follow the course of worshiping him. In that case, “practice what is a lie” and “follow what is a lie” are possible translations.

They strengthen the hands of evildoers is rendered “They encourage evildoers” by Revised English Bible and “siding with the wicked” by New American Bible. Luther 1984 renders “they strengthen the wicked” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “They strengthen unscrupulous people in the things that they do.” Translators can say “they encourage people to do evil.”

So that no one turns from his wickedness can be “so that no one gives up his evil ways [or, stops doing evil].” Compare 18.8.

All of them have become like Sodom to me and … Gomorrah: The context indicates the meaning to be “To me they are all as bad as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah” (Good News Translation). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates this last part of the verse as “In my eyes these prophets are just as depraved as the people of Sodom, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem as the people of Gomorrah!” Sodom and Gomorrah were the cities that the LORD destroyed because of their evil (see Gen 18.20; 19.24-25).

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 .