17 Yet our eyes failed,
Looking for [a]help was (A)useless;
At our observation point we have watched
For a (B)nation that could not save.
18 They (C)hunted our steps
So that we could not walk in our streets;
Our (D)end drew near,
Our days were [b]finished
For our end had come.
19 Our pursuers were (E)swifter
Than the eagles of the sky;
They chased us on the mountains,
They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.
20 The (F)breath of our nostrils, the (G)Lords anointed,
Was (H)captured in their pits,
Of whom we had said, “[c]In his (I)shadow
We shall live among the nations.”
21 Rejoice and be joyful, daughter of (J)Edom,
Who lives in the land of Uz;
But the (K)cup will pass to you as well,
You will become drunk and expose yourself.
22 The punishment of your wrongdoing has been (L)completed, daughter of Zion;
He will no longer exile you.
But He (M)will punish your wrongdoing, 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
  3. Lamentations 4:20 I.e., under his protection

17 Our eyes continually failed, looking for some help, but for nothing.
From our watchtower we watched for a nation that doesn’t save.

18 Our steps were tracked; we could no longer walk in our streets.
Our end had drawn near; our days were done—our end had definitely come.

19 Our hunters were faster than airborne eagles.
They chased us up the mountains; they ambushed us in the wilderness.

20 The Lord’s chosen one, the very breath in our lungs, was caught in their traps—
the one we used to talk about, saying, “Under his protection we will live among the nations.”

21 Rejoice and be happy, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz.
But this cup will pass over to you too. You will get drunk on it. You will be stripped naked.

22 Your punishment[a] is over, Daughter Zion; God won’t expose you anymore.
But he will attend to your punishment, Daughter Edom; he will expose your sins.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:22 Or iniquity