SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:11

1:11a All her people groan

The people in Jerusalem moan
-or-
Jerusalem’s people are making sad noises. (Easy English Bible)

1:11b as they search for bread.

while they search for food.
-or-
They are sad as they look for food. (Easy English Bible)

1:11c They have traded their treasures for food

They give away their best things ⌊and they even give their children⌋ for food.
-or-
They sell things that they love. They use them to buy food. (Easy English Bible)

1:11d to keep themselves alive.

All they want is to stay alive.
-or-
That way they can keep themselves alive.

1:11e Look, O LORD, and consider,

They say, “Please look at us, Yahweh,
-or-

⌊They beg⌋ Yahweh to notice what is happening.

1:11f for I have become despised.

and see how worthless we are!”
-or-

⌊The enemies⌋ think about them with disdain.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:21

2:21a Both young and old lie together

The corpses of people of all ages (Translation for Translators)
-or-
The dead, young and old, (FBV)

2:21b in the dust of the streets.

lie in the streets.
-or-
lie together on the ground in open places.

2:21c My young men and maidens

There are even corpses of young men and young women (Translation for Translators)
-or-
Our strong young men and women

2:21d have fallen by the sword.

who have been killed by our enemies swords. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
were killed by our enemies.

2:21e You have slain them

You slaughtered them
-or-
You killed them brutally

2:21f in the day of Your anger;

because you were so angry.
-or-
out of your great anger.

2:21g You have slaughtered them without compassion.

You slaughtered them without mercy ⌊like animals for a sacrifice⌋ .
-or-
You had no compassion, when you killed them.

2:21a-g (combined)

My people, both young and old, lie dead in the streets. Because you were angry, my young men and women were brutally slaughtered. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You/Yahweh got very angry ⌊with the people of Jerusalem⌋ . You killed old and young people, young men and young women with the ⌊enemies’⌋ weapons. Now the dead bodies lie in the streets ⌊of the city⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:31

3:31 For the Lord will not cast us off forever.

Because the Lord will not abandon anyone forever.
-or-
The Lord does not turn against people for ever. (Easy English Bible)
-or-
He should remember that the Lord does not reject people forever. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:63

3:63a see how

Just look! (FBV)
-or-
Just look at my enemies,

3:63b When they sit and when they rise,

Whether they’re sitting down and or standing up, (FBV)
-or-
sitting and standing there! (New International Reader’s Version)

3:63c they mock me in song.

they sing mocking songs about me.
-or-
They sing and make fun of me. (New International Reader’s Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 5:7

5:7a Our fathers sinned and are no more,

Our forefathers sinned but died ⌊before God’s judgment came⌋ .
-or-
Our people of long ago sinned. And they are now dead. (New International Reader’s Version)

5:7b but we bear their punishment.

Now we are suffering ⌊not just⌋ because of ⌊our sins, but because of⌋ their sins ⌊also⌋ .
-or-
Now God punishes us because of their sins. (New International Reader’s Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:22

1:22a Let all their wickedness come before You,

Look how evil my enemies are! (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
May you see all the evil things they’ve done! (FBV)

1:22b and deal with them as You have dealt with me

Punish them, as you punished me
-or-
Treat them the same way as you’ve treated me (FBV)
-or-
As you have dealt with me, so deal with them ⌊the same way⌋ .

1:22c because of all my transgressions.

for all my sins.
-or-
for not doing what you/Yahweh told me to do.
-or-
because we did so many bad things.

1:22d For my groans are many, and my heart is faint.

I say all of this as I groan in suffering and my heart is weak.”
-or-
Do this because I am groaning again and again. Do this because my heart is sick.” (English Easy-to-Read Version)

Section 2:1-22

Song two: The Lord acted as Jerusalem’s enemy

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:10

3:10a He is a bear lying in wait,

He has waited to attack me like a bear
-or-
To me he is like a bear lying in ambush, (NET Bible)

3:10b a lion hiding in ambush.

or a lion hiding in the bushes.
-or-
like a hidden lion stalking its prey. (TLB)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:42

3:42a We have sinned and rebelled;

Letʼs say, “We have sinned. Weʼve refused to obey you. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
that we have sinned and made our hearts hard toward him.

3:42b You have not forgiven.

And you havenʼt forgiven us. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
He did not forgive us.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020