Lamentations 4:17-20

The People of Jerusalem Lament:

ע (Ayin)

4:17 Our eyes continually failed us

as we looked in vain for help. ¹ 

From our watchtowers we watched

for a nation that could not rescue us.

צ (Tsade)

4:18 Our enemies ²  hunted us down at every step ³ 

so that we could not walk about in our streets.

Our end drew near, our days were numbered, ⁴ 

for our end had come!

ק (Qof)

4:19 Those who pursued us were swifter

than eagles ⁵  in the sky. ⁶ 

They chased us over the mountains;

they ambushed us in the wilderness.

ר (Resh)

4:20 Our very life breath – the Lord’s anointed king ⁷  –

was caught in their traps, ⁸ 

of whom we thought, ⁹ 

“Under his protection ¹⁰  we will survive among the nations.”

[4:17]  ¹ tn Heb “Our eyes failed in vain for help.”

[4:18]  ² tn Heb “they”; this has been specified in the translation as “our enemies” for clarity.

[4:18]  ³ tn Heb “they hunted our steps.”

[4:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “our days were full.”

[4:19]  ³ tn The bird referred to here could be one of several species of eagles, but more likely is the griffin-vulture (cf. NEB “vultures”). However, because eagles are more commonly associated with swiftness than vultures in contemporary English, “eagles” was used in the translation.

[4:19]  ⁴ tn Or “in the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.

[4:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “the anointed one of the Lord.” The term “king” is added in the translation to clarify the referent of the phrase “the Lord’s anointed.”

[4:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “was captured in their pits.”

[4:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “of whom we had said.”

[4:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “under his shadow.” The term צֵל (tsel, “shadow”) is used figuratively here to refer the source of protection from military enemies. In the same way that the shade of a tree gives physical relief and protection from the heat of the sun (e.g., Judg 9:15; Job 40:22; Ps 80:11; Song 2:3; Ezek 17:23; 31:6, 12, 17; Hos 4:13; 14:8; Jon 4:5, 6), a faithful and powerful king can provide “shade” (= protection) from enemies and military attack (Num 14:19; Ps 91:1; Isa 30:2, 3; 49:2; 51:16; Jer 48:45; Lam 4:20).