To turn aside the right of a man: turn aside translates a verb which, when used with right or “justice,” means “to violate, deny,” that is, “to fail to do justly.” New English Bible has “to deprive a man of his rights,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “to violate the rights of a man.”

In the presence of the Most High: Most High is Hebrew ʿelyon, an honorific title for God used many times in the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms. It describes God as the greatest and most powerful of the gods. The translation of this title may be expressed, for example, “God who is above all gods,” or “God who is greatest of all.”

Verse 35 is translated by Bible en français courant “When someone defies God the Most High by violating the rights of man…,” and by New English Bible “to deprive a man of his rights in defiance of the Most High.” We may also say, for example, “When someone takes away the rights people have, and does so right in front of the God who is above all others….”

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 .