SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:12

3:12a He bent His bow

God took careful aim (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He took out his bow (MSG)

3:12b and set me as the target for His arrow.

and shot his arrows at me.
-or-
and arrows and used me as his target.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:44

3:44a You have covered Yourself with a cloud

You have veiled yourself as with a cloud (TLB)
-or-
You have hidden from us in a cloud. (Easy English Bible)

3:44b that no prayer can pass through.

and our prayers cannot reach you any more.
-or-
So you do not listen to us when we talk to you. (Easy English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 4:10

4:10a The hands of compassionate women

Women who usually/previously were very kind (Translation for Translators)
-or-
Then even nice women (English Easy-to-Read Version)

4:10b have cooked their own children,

have killed and cooked their own children. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
boiled their own children for supper. (MSG)

4:10c who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

They ate them when there was no other food, when Jerusalem was surrounded by enemy soldiers. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
The children were food for their mothers. This happened when my people were destroyed. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

4:10a-c (combined)

Life in the city is so hard that loving mothers have boiled and eaten their own children. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 5:20

5:20a Why have You forgotten us forever?

So why do you keep forgetting us? (MSG)
-or-
Tell us why don’t you care for us anymore.
-or-
You seem to have forgotten us forever. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

5:20b Why have You forsaken us for so long?

Why have you abandoned us so long? (GNTD)
-or-
Tell us why you have left us alone for so long. (Easy English Bible)
-or-
You seem to have left us alone for such a long time. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:2

1:2a She weeps aloud in the night,

All night long she cries.
-or-
We weep bitterly all night long, (Translation for Translators)

1:2b with tears upon her cheeks.

Tears run down her cheeks.
-or-
with tears flowing down our cheeks. (Translation for Translators)

1:2c Among all her lovers

Many nations were friendly to her, (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
From those ⌊nations⌋ who loved us

1:2d there is no one to comfort her.

but not one of them comforts her now. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
nobody speaks kind words to us.

1:2e All her friends have betrayed her;

Her/Jerusalem’s allies have betrayed her,
-or-
All our friends have deceived us.

1:2f they have become her enemies.

and are all against her now. (GNTD)
-or-
They are now our enemies.

1:3a Judah has gone into exile

Judah has been led away into captivity, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊The enemies⌋ took them away as slaves.

1:3b under affliction and harsh slavery;

oppressed with cruel slavery. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊after the people of⌋ Judah ⌊around the city Jerusalem⌋ had suffered very much.

1:3c she dwells among the nations

Now they live among the nations. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
They live in other lands, (GNTD)

1:3d but finds no place to rest.

They canʼt find any place to rest. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
with no place to call their own.

1:3e All her pursuers have overtaken her

The enemies ran after them and seized them
-or-
The people who chased ⌊the Jews ⌋ caught them

1:3f in the midst of her distress.

while the people were in trouble.
-or-
in the narrow places, ⌊where they tried to hide⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:13

2:13a What can I say for you?

Is there anything I could say to you ⌊people of Jerusalem, that would help you⌋ ? ⌊No, there is nothing to say.⌋
-or-
I don’t know what to say to you(pl) .

2:13b To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem?

O Jerusalem, what can I compare your anguish to? (TLB)
-or-
Who has ever seen such sorrow, (New Living Translation (2004)) ⌊as you have,⌋ people of Jerusalem? ⌊No one!⌋

2:13c To what can I liken you,

Is there anyone to whom I can compare you(pl) ⌊people of Jerusalem⌋ ?
-or-
There is no one to whom I could compare you, ⌊people of Jerusalem⌋ .

2:13d that I may console you,

⌊Can I say anything⌋ that would comfort you,
-or-
I don’t know how to comfort you,

2:13e O Virgin Daughter of Zion?

lovely city of Jerusalem? ⌊No, there is nothing I can say.⌋
-or-
my beloved people of Jerusalem!

2:13f For your wound is as deep as the sea.

Your disaster is boundless as the ocean (GNTD)
-or-
You have been wounded so terribly,

2:13g Who can ever heal you?

there is no possible hope. (GNTD)
-or-
that no man can restore you.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:23

3:23a They are new every morning;

His great love is new every morning. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
Every morning he is merciful to us again. (Translation for Translators)

3:23b great is Your faithfulness!

You are so faithful, ⌊Yahweh⌋ !
-or-
We can always trust you.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:55

3:55a I called on Your name, O LORD,

I shouted your name, Yahweh
-or-
But I prayed to you, Yahweh,

3:55b out of the depths of the Pit.

from the bottom of the water hole.
-or-
when I was drowning in the well.

3:55a-b (combined)

But from the bottom of the grave I cried out to Yahweh.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020