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 Still (A)our eyes failed us,
Watching vainly for our help;
In our watching we watched
For a nation that could not save us.

18 (B)They [a]tracked our steps
So that we could not walk in our streets.
(C)Our end was near;
Our days were over,
For our end had come.

19 Our pursuers were (D)swifter
Than the eagles of the heavens.
They pursued us on the mountains
And lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The (E)breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord,
(F)Was caught in their pits,
Of whom we said, “Under his shadow
We shall live among the nations.”

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of (G)Edom,
You who dwell in the land of Uz!
(H)The cup shall also pass over to you
And you shall become drunk and make yourself naked.

22 (I)The punishment of your iniquity [b]is accomplished,
O daughter of Zion;
He will no longer send you into captivity.
(J)He will punish your iniquity,
O daughter of Edom;
He will uncover your sins!

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:18 Lit. hunted
  2. Lamentations 4:22 has been completed