SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020 – Page 2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 4:8

4:8a But now their appearance is blacker than soot;

But now they are blacker than coal. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
But now they are very black ⌊, all color is gone⌋ .

4:8b they are not recognized in the streets.

No one even recognizes them in the streets. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
They look no better than everyone else in the streets.

4:8c Their skin has shriveled on their bones;

Their skin is wrinkled on their bones. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
Their skin sticks to their bones, (TLB)

4:8d it has become as dry as a stick.

It is is as dry as wood.
-or-
it is dry and hard and withered. (TLB)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 5:18

5:18a because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate,

Jerusalem is completely deserted, (Translation for Translators)
-or-

⌊We are so sad because the enemies⌋ destroyed the Temple. The place is in ruins.

5:18b patrolled by foxes.

and jackals/wolves prowl around it. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
Wild animals run around there now.

5:18a-b (combined)

Foxes roam where once the Temple stood, which now lies in ruins.
-or-
For Jerusalem is empty and desolate, a place haunted by jackals. (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:11

2:11a My eyes fail from weeping;

⌊The prophet says,⌋ “My eyes are red with weeping (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The prophet cried until the tears no longer came.

2:11b I am churning within.

I am very grieved in my soul.
-or-
He is suffering deep down inside his body ⌊from sadness⌋ .

2:11c My heart is poured out in grief

I am exhausted with grief (GNTD)
-or-
He is so sad, that he feels ill,

2:11d over the destruction of the daughter of my people,

at the destruction of my people. (GNTD)
-or-
because the enemy has killed his people.

2:11e because children and infants faint

Children and babies ⌊are so weak, they⌋ are falling
-or-
Children and tiny babies were dying

2:11f in the streets of the city.

in the city’s streets.
-or-
in public places of the city.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:21

3:21a Yet I call this to mind

But here is something else I remember. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
But then I choose to remember God, (Easy English Bible)

3:21b and therefore I have hope:

And it gives me hope. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
and so I will wait ⌊for God⌋ .

3:21a-b (combined)

The reason I can still hope is that I keep one thing in mind.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:53

3:53a They dropped me alive into a pit

Because they wanted to kill me, they threw me into a well.
-or-
They wanted to kill me by tossing me into a deep water hole.

3:53b and cast stones upon me

Then they threw stones at me.
-or-
Then they covered the hole with a stone.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 4:19

4:19a Those who chased us were swifter

Those who pursued us were faster (Translation for Translators)
-or-
The enemy was quicker (Easy English Bible)

4:19b than the eagles in the sky;

than eagles flying in the sky. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
than fast birds that fly in the air ⌊and hunt⌋ .

4:19c they pursued us over the mountains

We fled into the mountains and they ran after us.
-or-
If we fled to the mountains, they found us. (New Living Translation (2004))

4:19d and ambushed us in the wilderness.

⌊We tried to hide⌋ in the desert, but they waited there for us ⌊like a wild animal that waits for its prey⌋ .
-or-
If we hid in the wilderness, they were waiting for us there. (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:12

Section 1:12–22

Jerusalem pleads for mercy and confesses her sins

1:12a Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by?

⌊The people of Jerusalem say,⌋ “You who pass by! You do not seem to care about what has happened to us.
-or-
The people cry out to those who pass them by. None of them cares ⌊about Jerusalem’s suffering⌋ .

1:12b Look around and see!

Just look at our condition!
-or-

⌊The people of Jerusalem⌋ beg the passersby to look at how desperate their situation is.

1:12c Is there any sorrow like mine

Has any of you ever seen someone else suffer as much as we do? ⌊No!⌋
-or-

⌊They say,⌋ “Nobody has ever suffered so much pain as we have!

1:12d which was inflicted on me,

This suffering came to us
-or-
Such terrible pain was sent to us!

1:12e which the LORD made me suffer

from Yahweh,
-or-
It was Yahweh who sent it to us,

1:12f on the day of His fierce anger?

when he got furious.
-or-
because he was so angry.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:22

2:22a You summoned my attackers on every side, as for the day of an appointed feast.

“As if it were a feast day, you call (NET Bible)
-or-
“In the way people are invited to a feast

2:22b You summoned my attackers on every side, as for the day of an appointed feast.

enemies to terrify me on every side. (NET Bible)
-or-
so you invited my enemies to torment me.”

2:22a-b (combined)

You invited enemies to attack me from every direction like you were inviting them to a religious festival. (FBV)
-or-

⌊In former times people⌋ would be invited to regular holy feasts. Now you invited my enemies in the same way, to attack me from all sides.
-or-
You invited my enemies to attack me on every side. You invited them as if to a feast.

2:22c In the day of the LORD’s anger

When the day of Yahweh’s anger came
-or-
On that day Yahweh was so angry

2:22d no one escaped or survived;

nobody could run away and be safe.
-or-
that all suffered and died.

2:22e my enemy has destroyed those I nurtured and reared.

The ones I cared for and loved
-or-
The ones I cuddled and took care of

2:22f my enemy has destroyed those I nurtured and reared.

my enemies killed.”
-or-
were murdered by our (incl.) enemies.”

2:22e-f (combined)

My enemies killed the ones I cared for and loved.

Section 3:1-66

Song three: The person of sorrow and hope

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020