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Ayin

17 Yet our eyes were spent,
Looking for [a]help was (A)vanity;
In our watching we have watched
For a (B)nation that could not save.

Tsadhe

18 They (C)hunted our steps
So that we could not walk in our open squares;
Our (D)end drew near,
Our days were [b]finished,
For our end had come.

Qoph

19 Our pursuers were (E)swifter
Than the eagles of the sky;
They hotly pursued us on the mountains;
They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.

Resh

20 The (F)breath of our nostrils, the (G)anointed of Yahweh,
Was (H)captured in their pits,
Of whom we had said, “Under his (I)shadow
We shall live among the nations.”

Sin

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of (J)Edom,
Who inhabits the land of Uz;
But the (K)cup will pass on to you as well;
You will become drunk and make yourself naked.

Tav

22 The punishment of your iniquity has come (L)to an end, O daughter of Zion;
He will exile you no longer.
But He (M)will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom;
He will expose your sins!

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:17 Lit our help
  2. Lamentations 4:18 Lit full

17 Our eyes failed, ever watching
    vainly for help;
we were watching eagerly
    for a nation that could not save.(A)

18 They dogged our steps
    so that we could not walk in our streets;
our end drew near; our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.(B)

19 Our pursuers were swifter
    than the eagles in the heavens;
they chased us on the mountains;
    they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.(C)

20 The Lord’s anointed, the breath of our life,
    was taken in their pits—
the one of whom we said, “Under his shadow
    we shall live among the nations.”(D)

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Edom,
    you that live in the land of Uz;
but to you also the cup shall pass;
    you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.(E)

22 The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter Zion, is accomplished;
    he will keep you in exile no longer;
but your iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will punish;
    he will uncover your sins.(F)

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