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17 Our eyes still fail,
    looking in vain for our help.
    In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

18 They hunt our steps,
    so that we can’t go in our streets.
Our end is near.
    Our days are fulfilled,
    for our end has come.

19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky.
    They chased us on the mountains.
    They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.

20 The breath of our nostrils,
    the anointed of Yahweh,
    was taken in their pits;
of whom we said,
    under his shadow we will live among the nations.

21 Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom,
    who dwells in the land of Uz.
The cup will pass through to you also.
    You will be drunken,
    and will make yourself naked.

22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion.
    He will no more carry you away into captivity.
He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom.
    He will uncover your sins.

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17 Our eyes failed,
    searching in vain for hope;
we kept watching and looking
    for a nation that would not help.

18 Our steps were closely stalked,
    so we couldn’t travel on our own streets.
Our end is near,
    our days are over;
        indeed, our end has come.

19 Our pursuers were swifter
    than soaring eagles;[a]
they pursued us over the mountains,
    lying in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The Lord’s anointed,
    the breath of our life,
        was captured in their pits.
About him we had said,
    “Under his protection we will survive
        among the nations.”

21 Celebrate and rejoice, you women[b] of Edom,
    who live in the land of Uz.
But to you the cup also will pass—
    you will become drunk and stripped naked.

22 The punishment for your sin is complete, you women[c] of Zion,
    and God[d] will no longer exile you.
He will punish your iniquity, you women[e] of Edom,
    and he will expose your sins.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:19 Lit. than eagles of the heavens
  2. Lamentations 4:21 Lit. daughter
  3. Lamentations 4:22 Lit. daughter
  4. Lamentations 4:22 Lit. he
  5. Lamentations 4:22 Lit. daughter