SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 4:2

4:2a How the precious sons of Zion,

The precious people of Jerusalem
-or-
The young men of Jerusalem (Translation for Translators)

4:2b once worth their weight in pure gold,

were once more valuable than finest gold.
-or-
were as valuable as large amounts of gold. (Translation for Translators)

4:2c are now esteemed as jars of clay,

Now, however, they are treated as common dishes,
-or-
But now people think of them as not worth more than any ordinary clay jar.
-or-
but now they are thought of as clay jars made by the hands of a potter.

4:2d the work of a potter’s hands!

made by a potter.
-or-

⌊People see them as⌋ pots which potters make ⌊regularly⌋ .

4:2a-d (combined)

Zion’s young people were as precious to us as gold, but now they are treated like common clay pots. (GNTD)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 5:12

5:12a Princes have been hung up by their hands;

Our leaders were hung by our enemies.
-or-
The enemies killed our leaders and hung them up.

5:12b elders receive no respect.

The enemies did not honor our elders.
-or-
They disgraced our elders.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:5

2:5a The Lord is like an enemy;

God became the enemy.
-or-
The Lord acted as if he was our enemy.

2:5b He has swallowed up Israel.

He ruined Israel.
-or-
He destroyed Israel ⌊as a people⌋ .

2:5c He has swallowed up all her palaces

He destroyed the houses of rich people
-or-
He demolished all our beautiful houses

2:5d and destroyed her strongholds.

and ruined all their fortresses.
-or-
and destroyed the strong houses.

2:5e He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah.

He caused us (incl.) to mourn and weep more ⌊than ever because so many were killed⌋ .
-or-
The people of Judah mourn and moan more ⌊than ever⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:15

3:15a He has filled me with bitterness

He gave me this poison to drink. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
God made my life bitter ⌊with suffering⌋ .

3:15b He has intoxicated me with wormwood.

He filled me with this bitter drink. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
He forced me to drink bitter liquid.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:47

3:47a Panic and pitfall have come upon us—

We are filled with fear, for we are trapped, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
We have become afraid of them. (Easy English Bible)

3:47b devastation and destruction.

devastated, and ruined.” (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
They have caught us and they have destroyed us and our things.” (Easy English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 4:13

4:13a But this was

But that is what happened. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
This happened

4:13b for the sins of her prophets

It happened because the prophets sinned, (Translation for Translators)
-or-
because the prophets of Jerusalem sinned.

4:13c and the guilt of her priests,

and the priests also sinned. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
Her priests had done evil things. (New International Reader’s Version)

4:13d who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.

They had killed righteous people in Jerusalem.
-or-
They had caused good people to die. (Easy English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:6

1:6a All the splendor has departed from the Daughter of Zion.

All the things that made Jerusalem great have gone. (UBSH)
-or-
Jerusalem was a beautiful city, but it is not beautiful now. (Translation for Translators)

1:6b Her princes are like deer

Her leaders are like animals (Easy English Bible)
-or-
The leaders of the city are like ⌊hungry⌋ wild animals.

1:6c that find no pasture;

without food. (Easy English Bible)
-or-
They look for grass but cannot find it.

1:6d they lack the strength to flee

They are too weak to run (Easy English Bible)
-or-
Therefore they are too weak

1:6e in the face of the hunter.

from their enemies. (Easy English Bible)
-or-
to run away from the people who chase them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:16

2:16a All your enemies open their mouths against you.

All your enemies mock you. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
All your enemies laugh at you

2:16b They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying,

They whistle and grind their teeth at you. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
and make noises through their teeth.

2:16c “We have swallowed her up.

They say, “We have destroyed them! (Translation for Translators)
-or-
They are happy because they think that they have won.

2:16d This is the day for which we have waited.

This is what we (excl.) looked forward to
-or-
They waited for the day ⌊when Jerusalem would be destroyed⌋ .

2:16e We have lived to see it!”

and now it has happened!”
-or-
Finally, this day has come.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020