I have become the laughingstock of all peoples: laughingstock means “the object of mockery, ridicule, scorn, or contempt.” Of all peoples is a textual problem. The Hebrew text has “of my people,” but Revised Standard Version translates an alternative form of the text which is based on a long textual tradition. Modern translators, as well as the ancient ones, have been divided on which form to follow. The difference between the two forms consists of only one letter. If the poet is thinking that the prediction in Deuteronomy 28.37 has now been fulfilled (“the people … will make fun of you and ridicule you”—Good News Translation), the form all peoples is more likely to be the original. But the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project committee favors “all my people” (a “B” rating), since a scribal change to make the text consistent with Deuteronomy 28.37 explains that variant. There is really no way to know, and consequently translators are free to say “all my people” (which refers to the people of Israel) or “all people” (all the nations that have known of the fall of Jerusalem).

The burden of their songs all day long is literally “their song all the day.” This refers to songs of ridicule sung to make fun of someone. The use of songs for satire and ridicule is very common in many language areas. Where such songs are common a special term often designates them. Here the songs are said to be sung all day long, to emphasize the intensity of the ridicule. The burden of their songs may be rendered, for example, “I am the one they ridicule in their songs,” “when they sing ridicule songs, they always mention my name,” or “the people sing satire songs all day, and they are all about me.” Good News Translation “I am a joke to them all” gets the effect of the ridicule but misses the idea of singing.

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 .