SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:50

3:50 until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

until Yahweh looks down from heaven and sees ⌊our trouble⌋ .
-or-

⌊Not⌋ until Yahweh in heaven notices ⌊how terribly we suffer⌋ .
-or-
He will see us and he will help us. (Easy English Bible)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 4:16

4:16a The presence of the LORD has scattered them;

It is Yahweh himself who has scattered them, (Translation for Translators)
-or-
Yahweh himself sent the priests and prophets away.

4:16b He regards them no more.

he no longer is concerned about them. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
He will not take care of them any longer. (Easy English Bible)

4:16c The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.

The priests receive no honor and the elders are not respected anymore.
-or-
He showed no regard for our priests and leaders. (GNTD)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:9

1:9a Her uncleanness stains her skirts;

She defiled herself with immorality (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Jerusalem was dirty because the people were so bad.
-or-
Jerusalem’s sins were like a woman’s dress ⌊which was⌋ dirty ⌊from her blood flow⌋ .

1:9b she did not consider her end.

and did not think that Yahweh would punish her.
-or-
They never thought that the end would be like this.

1:9c Her downfall was astounding;

Her fall from power amazed everyone. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
What the enemies did to the people of Jerusalem came as a terrible shock to them.

1:9d there was no one to comfort her.

And no one was there to comfort her. (New International Reader’s Version)
-or-
They did not have anyone who could help them feel better.

1:9e Look, O LORD, on my affliction,

⌊The people cry out saying,⌋ “Yahweh, look at how we are suffering!
-or-

⌊So they called to⌋ Yahweh, ⌊asking him⌋ to look at how much they were suffering.

1:9f for the enemy has triumphed!

⌊We suffer⌋ because our enemies have defeated us!”
-or-
How bad it was! The enemy had won ⌊and destroyed the holy⌋ city.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2:19

2:19a Arise, cry out in the night

Wake up in the night and plead ⌊with the Lord⌋
-or-
Get up and pray for help (Contemporary English Version)

2:19b from the first watch of the night.

again and again.
-or-
all through the night. (Contemporary English Version)

2:19c Pour out your heart like water

Pour out your feelings like you would pour out water.
-or-
Empty all your thoughts ⌊and tell everything⌋

2:19d in the presence of the Lord.

Tell the Lord everything.
-or-
to the Lord.

2:19c-d (combined)

Tell the Lord all your troubles.
-or-
Pour out all your words and thoughts to the Lord like ⌊you would pour out⌋ water ⌊from a jar⌋ .

2:19e Lift up your hands to Him

Raise your arms to plead to him (Translation for Translators)
-or-
Hold up your hands to him (FBV)

2:19f for the lives of your children

to keep your children alive.
-or-
in prayer for the lives of your children. (FBV)

2:19g who are fainting from hunger

They are weak from hunger ⌊and fall⌋
-or-
They are dying from hunger

2:19h on the corner of every street.

on the roads.
-or-
in the open streets.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:29

3:29a Let him bury his face in the dust—

They should lie in the dirt, with their faces on the ground. (Translation for Translators)
-or-
They should bow low with their faces to the ground, (FBV)

3:29b perhaps there is still hope.

Maybe there is still hope. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-

⌊because⌋ there may still be hope ⌊that Yahweh will save them⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 3:61

3:61a O LORD, You have heard their insults,

You have heard how they insulted me, Yahweh.
-or-
Yahweh, you have heard their cruel words against me.

3:61b all their plots against me—

And ⌊you know⌋ everything they have planned to do to me.
-or-
Yes, you know about all the bad things that they want to do to me. (Easy English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 5:5

5:5a We are closely pursued;

Those who pursue us are at our heels; (New International Version)
-or-
We are under persecution.

5:5b we are weary and find no rest.

We are worn out and can find no rest. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
We are very tired and are not allowed to rest.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 1:20

1:20a See, O LORD, how distressed I am!

Yahweh, see how much I suffer!
-or-
Look, Yahweh! We are in much trouble!

1:20b I am churning within;

I am distressed ⌊from pain and suffering⌋ .
-or-
We are upset ⌊very sad, confused and hopeless⌋ .

1:20c my heart is pounding within me,

My heart is broken/beating too fast. I am very sad,
-or-
Our thoughts are confused and we don’t know what to think or do.
-or-
We feel broken and devastated.

1:20d for I have been most rebellious.

because I have been so very disobedient.
-or-

⌊This is⌋ because we have ignored ⌊God’s commands⌋ and did what he/Yahweh had forbidden.

1:20e Outside, the sword bereaves;

There is murder in the streets,
-or-
The enemies kill us outside ⌊of our homes⌋ ,

1:20f inside, there is death.

even indoors there is death. (GNTD)
-or-
and inside we die ⌊of hunger and sickness⌋ .

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Lamentations 2020