From a description of the situation in Jerusalem, the poet now turns to Jerusalem herself and addresses her with a series of questions.
What can I say for you: say translates a word normally meaning “testify,” as in the story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21. Scholars question the use of the term in Hebrew, but Good News Translation and others retain the sense of say, meaning “There is nothing I can say that will help you.” Bible en français courant translates “I no longer know what to say to you.” Some, however, agree with the Vulgate in proposing a change in the Hebrew word to get “To what can I liken you?” (AB), which makes a very close parallel with what follows. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project reports that its members divided, half preferring one form of the Hebrew text and the other half preferring another form, with a rating of “C” in each case. But in either case an interpretation of the text, “to what can I compare you?” is given as a possibility. However, if this option is taken there are then three verbs in verse 13, all with the sense of “compare,” and this is rare in Hebrew poetry; consequently “What can I say about you?” is to be preferred.
Since there is no certain solution, the Handbook suggests that the first half-line may be translated “What can I say about you?” or “With what can I compare you?” This question assumes a negative answer. Therefore it may be more natural to say, for example, “There is nothing I can say to help you” or “Nothing that I might say would do you any good.”
O daughter of Jerusalem is the person addressed in the first half-line. In many languages it will be more natural if this is placed before the question, as in Good News Translation. Note how Good News Translation has moved both Jerusalem and Zion (“beloved Jerusalem”) to the beginning of verse 13.
In the next unit the poet asks what comparison or likeness he can use to comfort Zion. The sense is that there is nothing he can compare her suffering to, or no comparison he can find that would comfort her in her distress. Good News Translation has adapted its translation by placing the question of comfort first: “How can I comfort you?” Instead of What can I liken to you, Good News Translation drops the idea of a comparison and changes to a statement about her suffering: “No one has ever suffered like this.” Perhaps “like you” would have been better. Because this half-line is complex in both meaning and structure, Good News Translation provides a good model for translators.
O virgin daughter of Zion: in 1.15 this expression is used in regard to Judah. See there for comments.
The final unit affirms the impossibility of healing or restoring the ruined Jerusalem. Vast as the sea is your ruin expresses the extent of the disaster which Jerusalem has suffered. For the Hebrews the sea was a vast, mysterious, and hostile power. Comparing the extent of the destruction and suffering of Jerusalem to the sea will be difficult in many languages. However, it may be possible in some languages to compare the destructive force of the sea to the force that destroyed Jerusalem; for example, “As the sea washes away the shore, so is the ruin of Jerusalem.” This comparison may have to be applied to flooding rivers in areas where the ocean is unknown.
Who can restore you? assumes a negative reply and so may be translated “no one can restore you,” “no one can build you back again,” “there is no one who can heal you,” or “no one can bring you back to life.”
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 .