The first two units are a continuation of the poet’s description of Jerusalem as a woman and are closely connected with verse 8.

Her uncleanness represents the sins she has committed, and these are perhaps symbolized by referring to menstrual blood which has stained her clothing. The consequence is that all can see it. Jerusalem’s sins render her unclean just as menstruation renders a woman ritually unclean (Lev 12.2). The poet uses such language as this to emphasize the full horror of Jerusalem’s sinfulness. In many languages there are specific terms referring to uncleanness, or “taboo” as some cultures call it, resulting from menstruation. However, caution must be taken that the expression is not offensive or objectionable for public reading. Skirts refers to the lower part of a woman’s dress, not to a number of different dresses called “skirts.”

Took no thought of her doom: in her unfaithfulness to the LORD, Jerusalem had overlooked the possibility of punishment. Isaiah 47.7 uses similar language with regard to Babylon, also pictured as a woman. The expression no thought of her doom or “fate” may in some languages require saying, for example, “she did not think about where she would finally end,” or idiomatically, “she closed her eyes and did not see where she could come out.”

Therefore her fall is terrible is the consequence of failure to take thought for her future in the previous half-line. Fall refers to Jerusalem’s downfall or defeat.

She has no comforter: comforter translates the same verb used for “comfort” in verse 2. See there for comments.

O LORD, behold my affliction is a cry to the LORD for mercy as voiced by suffering Jerusalem.

Revised Standard Version has placed its final two lines in quotes, while Good News Translation keeps the third person. Here Good News Translation and others have accepted an alternative wording of the Hebrew as “her affliction.” But Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports Revised Standard Version with my affliction. In translation it will often be clearer to show, as in Revised Standard Version, that the final unit of verse 9 is an utterance of Jerusalem itself; for example “Jerusalem says, ‘Help me, LORD, see how I am suffering because my enemies have defeated me,’ ” or “Jerusalem says, ‘My enemies have beaten me; see how I am suffering. Help me, LORD.’ ”

For the enemy has triumphed: triumphed means “won the battle,” “been victorious,” or, in this context, “defeated me.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on Lamentations. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .