# by the sea

The Nile River was very wide, and people in Egypt and Cush referred to it as "the sea." Alternate translation: "on the great river" or "along the Nile River" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# vessels of papyrus

Papyrus is a tall plant that grows along the side of the Nile River. People bound together papyrus bundles to make boats. Alternate translation: "papyrus boats" or "boats made of reeds" or (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-unknown]])

# a nation tall and smooth ... a people feared far and near ... a nation strong and treading down, whose land the rivers divide

These phrases all describe the people of one nation.

# a nation tall and smooth

The word "nation" here refers to the people of that nation. Alternate translation: "a nation whose people are tall and have smooth skin" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# a people feared far and near

The words "far" and "near" are used together to mean "everywhere." Alternate translation: "a people who are feared everywhere" or "a people that everyone in the earth fears" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism]])

# a nation strong and treading down

Treading down represents conquering other nations. Alternate translation: "a nation that is strong and conquers other nations" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# the rivers divide

This probably refers to many rivers that flow through the nation so they divide it into different parts.