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

ע Ayin

17 All the while our eyes were failing
as we looked in vain for assistance;(A)
we watched from our towers
for a nation[a] that refused to help.

צ Tsade

18 Our steps were closely followed
so that we could not walk in our streets.
Our end drew near;(B) our time ran out.
Our end had come!

ק Qof

19 Those who chased us were swifter
than eagles in the sky;(C)
they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains
and ambushed us in the wilderness.

ר Resh

20 The Lord’s anointed,[b] the breath of our life,[c](D)
was captured in their traps.
We had said about him,
“We will live under his protection among the nations.”

שׂ Sin

21 So rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,(E)
you resident of the land of Uz!(F)
Yet the cup(G) will pass to you as well;
you will get drunk and expose yourself.

ת Tav

22 Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete;
He will not lengthen your exile.[d]
But He will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom,
and will expose your sins.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:17 Probably Egypt
  2. Lamentations 4:20 = King Zedekiah
  3. Lamentations 4:20 Lit nostrils
  4. Lamentations 4:22 Or not deport you again