\NormalFont\ShortTitle{LAMENTATIONS}

{\MTB This book contains the account of Jeremiah’s sorrow because of God punishing Israel. We call this book

\par }{\MT Lamentations



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH The sorrows of the people of Jerusalem
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Jerusalem was
{\ADD{once}} full of people,

\par }{\QB but now it is deserted.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Once}} it was honored by people all over the world,

\par }{\QB but now it is
{\ADD{grieving/abandoned}} like [SIM] a widow.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Once}} it was
{\ADD{honored like}} [MET] a princess
{\ADD{is honored}} among the nations,

\par }{\QB but now
{\ADD{we who live here}} have become slaves.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}We [PRS] weep bitterly
{\ADD{all}} night long,

\par }{\QB with tears flowing down our cheeks.

\par }{\Q Among
{\ADD{the people in}} all
{\ADD{the nations}} that loved Jerusalem

\par }{\QB there are none that comfort us
{\ADD{now}}.

\par }{\Q All
{\ADD{the rulers of those nations that were previously}} our allies have betrayed us,

\par }{\QB and they are all now enemies
{\ADD{of the people of Jerusalem}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{The people of}} Judah have been ◄exiled/forced to go to other countries►

\par }{\QB and caused to suffer greatly as slaves.

\par }{\Q They live in
{\ADD{other}} nations

\par }{\QB where they do not have peace/safety.

\par }{\Q Their enemies seized them,

\par }{\QB and there was no way for them to escape.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}The roads to Zion
{\ADD{Hill}} are empty [PRS]

\par }{\QB because no one comes
{\ADD{here}} to
{\ADD{celebrate}} the sacred festivals.

\par }{\Q The city gates are deserted,

\par }{\QB and the priests groan.

\par }{\Q The young women
{\ADD{of Jerusalem}} cry

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because}} they are suffering greatly.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}Our enemies have conquered the city,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{now}} they prosper.

\par }{\Q Yahweh has punished
{\ADD{the people of}} Jerusalem

\par }{\QB because of all the sins that they have committed.

\par }{\Q The children
{\ADD{of Jerusalem}} have been captured

\par }{\QB and taken
{\ADD{to other countries}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{6}Jerusalem was a beautiful city,

\par }{\QB but it is not beautiful now.

\par }{\Q The leaders
{\ADD{of the city}} are like [SIM] deer that are starving

\par }{\QB because of being unable to find any grass
{\ADD{to eat}}.

\par }{\Q They are very weak,

\par }{\QB with the result that they are unable to run from their enemies.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{The people of}} Jerusalem are sad and scattered,

\par }{\QB and they think about the previous greatness of the city.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{But now}} our enemies have captured the city,

\par }{\QB and there is no one to help the people.

\par }{\Q Our enemies destroyed the city

\par }{\QB and laughed while they were doing that.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{The people of}} [PRS] Jerusalem have sinned very much;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{it is as though}} [MET] the city has become
{\ADD{like}} a filthy
{\ADD{rag}}.

\par }{\Q All those who
{\ADD{previously}} honored the city
{\ADD{now}} despise it,

\par }{\QB because they see that it has become very disgraced [MET].

\par }{\Q Now
{\ADD{the people of}} the city groan,

\par }{\QB and they cover their faces
{\ADD{because they are very ashamed}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}The city has become filthy because of [PRS] the sins that the people have committed;

\par }{\QB they did not think about what could happen to the city.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Now}} the city has been destroyed,

\par }{\QB and there is no one to comfort
{\ADD{the people}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{The people cry out saying}}, “Yahweh, look at how we are suffering

\par }{\QB because our enemies have defeated us!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}Our enemies have taken away all our treasures,

\par }{\QB all the valuable things that we owned.

\par }{\Q We have seen
{\ADD{soldiers from other}} nations,
{\ADD{men who do not worship Yahweh}}, enter our sacred temple,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{the place}} where foreigners/non-Israelis were ◄forbidden/not allowed► to enter.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}The people of the city groan

\par }{\QB while they search for food;

\par }{\Q they have given their treasures

\par }{\QB to get food
{\ADD{to eat}} to remain alive.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{They say}}, “Yahweh, look
{\ADD{at us}},

\par }{\QB and see that we are despised!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}You people who pass by,

\par }{\QB you do not [RHQ] seem to care at all
{\ADD{about what has happened to us}}.

\par }{\Q Look around and see

\par }{\QB that there are no other [RHQ] people who are suffering like we are.

\par }{\Q Yahweh has caused us to suffer

\par }{\QB because he was extremely angry
{\ADD{with us}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{It is as though}} he sent a fire from heaven [MTY]

\par }{\QB that burned in our bones;

\par }{\Q {\ADD{it is as though}} [MET] he has placed a trap for our feet,

\par }{\QB and has prevented us from walking any further.

\par }{\Q He has abandoned us;

\par }{\QB we are weak/miserable
{\ADD{every day}}, all day long.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}He caused the sins that we have committed to be
{\ADD{like}} a heavy load for us to carry;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{it is as though}} [MET] he tied them around our necks.

\par }{\Q Previously we were strong,

\par }{\QB but he has caused us to become weak.

\par }{\Q He has allowed our enemies to capture us,

\par }{\QB and we were not able to do anything to resist them.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}Yahweh looked at our mighty soldiers

\par }{\QB and laughed at them.

\par }{\Q He has summoned a great army

\par }{\QB to
{\ADD{come and}} crush our young soldiers.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{It is as though}} [MET] Yahweh has trampled on
{\ADD{us}} people of Judah

\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{people trample}} on grapes in a pit
{\ADD{to make wine}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}I weep because of
{\ADD{all}} those things;

\par }{\QB my eyes are filled with tears.

\par }{\Q There is no one to comfort me;

\par }{\QB those who could encourage me are far away.

\par }{\Q Our enemies have conquered
{\ADD{us}},

\par }{\QB so our children have nothing good to ◄hope for/expect to happen►.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{We people of}} [PRS] Jerusalem reach out our hands
{\ADD{to get help}},

\par }{\QB but there is no one to comfort us.

\par }{\Q Yahweh has decided concerning
{\ADD{us descendants of}} Jacob

\par }{\QB that the people in nearby nations will become our enemies;

\par }{\Q so they consider that

\par }{\QB Jerusalem has become
{\ADD{like}} [MET] a filthy rag.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}But what Yahweh has done
{\ADD{to us}} is fair,

\par }{\QB because we have rebelled against obeying the commands that he gave
{\ADD{us}}.

\par }{\Q You people everywhere, listen
{\ADD{to us}};

\par }{\QB {\ADD{look and}} see that we are suffering
{\ADD{greatly}}.

\par }{\Q We had
{\ADD{many}} sons and daughters,

\par }{\QB but they have been captured and forced to go to distant countries.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}We pleaded with our allies
{\ADD{to help us}},

\par }{\QB but they
{\ADD{all}} refused.

\par }{\Q Our priests and our leaders

\par }{\QB have died
{\ADD{from hunger}} in the city

\par }{\Q while they were searching for food

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to eat}} to remain alive.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{20}Yahweh, see that we are suffering very much.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{It is as though}} our inner beings are tormented.

\par }{\Q We are sad [SYN]

\par }{\QB because we have rebelled
{\ADD{against you}}.

\par }{\Q Our enemies kill people in the streets with their swords;

\par }{\QB people are dying
{\ADD{because they have no food to eat}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{21}People have heard us while we groaned,

\par }{\QB but no one
{\ADD{came to}} comfort us.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Yahweh,}} you caused us to experience this
{\ADD{disaster}},

\par }{\QB and our enemies are happy to see what you have done
{\ADD{to us}}.

\par }{\Q But cause it soon to be the time that you have promised,

\par }{\QB when our enemies will suffer like we have suffered!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{22}{\ADD{Yahweh,}} see all the evil things that they have done

\par }{\QB and punish them!

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Punish them}} like you have punished us

\par }{\QB for all the sins that we committed!

\par }{\Q {\ADD{We say this to you}} because we suffer and groan very much,

\par }{\QB and we ◄faint/are very sad►.




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Yahweh punished Jerusalem
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Yahweh was extremely angry
{\ADD{with us}};

\par }{\QB as a result,
{\ADD{it was as though}} [MET] he covered Jerusalem with a dark cloud.

\par }{\Q Previously it was a beautiful/glorious city,

\par }{\QB but he has caused it to become a ruins.

\par }{\Q At the time he punished [MET] Israel,

\par }{\QB he
{\ADD{even}} abandoned his temple [MET]
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}Yahweh destroyed the homes of
{\ADD{the people of}} [PRS] Judah;

\par }{\QB he did not act mercifully.

\par }{\Q Because he was very angry,

\par }{\QB he broke down the fortresses of Judah.

\par }{\Q He has caused our kingdom and our rulers to become disgraced,

\par }{\QB and he has gotten rid of them.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}Because he was extremely angry,

\par }{\QB he has caused Israel to not be powerful [MET] any more.

\par }{\Q He has refused to assist us

\par }{\QB when our enemies attacked us.

\par }{\Q He has destroyed Israel

\par }{\QB like [SIM] a raging fire destroys everything.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}He bent his bow
{\ADD{to prepare to shoot us, his people}},

\par }{\QB as though we were his enemies.

\par }{\Q He
{\ADD{prepared to}} kill the people whom we love the most [MET],

\par }{\QB members of our own families.

\par }{\Q He is extremely angry [MTY] with us people of Jerusalem;

\par }{\QB his anger is like [SIM] a fire.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}Yahweh has become like an enemy

\par }{\QB to
{\ADD{us}} Israelis;

\par }{\Q he has destroyed our palaces

\par }{\QB and caused our fortresses to become ruins.

\par }{\Q He has gotten rid of many people in Jerusalem,

\par }{\QB and caused us to mourn and weep
{\ADD{for those who were killed}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{6}He has caused his temple to be smashed

\par }{\QB {\ADD{as easily}} as [SIM] if it was a shelter in a garden.

\par }{\Q He has caused
{\ADD{us, his people}}, to forget

\par }{\QB all our sacred festivals and Sabbath days.

\par }{\Q He has caused
{\ADD{our}} kings and priests to be rejected

\par }{\QB because he was extremely angry with them.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}Yahweh has rejected his own altar

\par }{\QB and abandoned his temple.

\par }{\Q He has allowed
{\ADD{our}} enemies to tear down the walls

\par }{\QB of
{\ADD{our temple and}} our palaces.

\par }{\Q They shout
{\ADD{victoriously}} in the temple of Yahweh,

\par }{\QB like we
{\ADD{previously shouted}} during our sacred festivals.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}Yahweh was determined

\par }{\QB to cause the walls of our city [MTY] to be torn down.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{It was as though}} he measured the walls

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{then he completely}} destroyed [MTY] them.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{It was as though}} he caused the towers and walls to lament/weep,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because they were now ruins}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}The city gates have collapsed;

\par }{\QB the bars that fastened the gates shut have been smashed.

\par }{\Q The king and his officials have
{\ADD{been forced to}} go to other countries.

\par }{\QB No longer does anyone teach the people the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to Moses}}.

\par }{\Q The prophets do not receive any visions

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because}} Yahweh does not give them any.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}The old men of Jerusalem [MTY] sit on the ground,

\par }{\QB and they say nothing.

\par }{\Q They wear rough sackcloth

\par }{\QB and throw dust on their heads
{\ADD{to show that they are sad}}.

\par }{\Q The young girls of Jerusalem bow down
{\ADD{sorrowfully}},

\par }{\QB their faces touching the ground.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}My eyes are very tired because of my tears;

\par }{\QB I am very grieved in my soul.

\par }{\Q Because
{\ADD{very many of}} my people have been killed,

\par }{\QB I grieve and am exhausted.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Even}} children and babies are fainting

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and dying}} in the streets
{\ADD{because they have no food}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}They cry out to their mothers,

\par }{\QB “We need [RHQ] something to eat and drink!”

\par }{\Q They faint like wounded men

\par }{\QB in the streets of the city.

\par }{\Q They slowly die

\par }{\QB in the arms of their mothers.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}You people of Jerusalem [MTY, DOU],

\par }{\QB ◄what can I/there is nothing that I can► say
{\ADD{to help you}}.

\par }{\Q No people have [RHQ] suffered like you are suffering;

\par }{\QB I do not know what I can do to comfort you.

\par }{\Q The disaster [MET] that you have experienced is as great

\par }{\QB as the ocean is deep;

\par }{\QB there is no one [RHQ] who can restore your
{\ADD{city}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}The prophets among you claimed that they had seen visions
{\ADD{from Yahweh}},

\par }{\QB but what they said was false and worthless.

\par }{\Q They did not save you from being ◄exiled/forced to go to other countries►,

\par }{\QB because they did not proclaim that you had sinned.

\par }{\Q Instead, the messages that they gave you deceived you

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because}} they were not true.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}All those who pass by you

\par }{\QB make fun of [IDM] you;

\par }{\Q they shake their heads

\par }{\QB and they hiss/sneer at you.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{They say}}, “Is this that great city of Jerusalem?

\par }{\QB Is it the city that was the most beautiful city in the world,

\par }{\QB the city that caused all
{\ADD{the people on}} the earth to be joyful?”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{Now}} all our enemies scoff [IDM] at you;

\par }{\QB they hiss/sneer
{\ADD{at you}} and gnash their teeth
{\ADD{to show that they hate you}}.

\par }{\Q They say, “We have destroyed them!

\par }{\QB This is what we longed/waited for,

\par }{\QB and now it has happened!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}Yahweh has done what he planned;

\par }{\QB long ago he threatened to destroy you,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{now}} he has done it.

\par }{\Q He has destroyed
{\ADD{your city}} without acting mercifully
{\ADD{toward you}};

\par }{\QB he has enabled your enemies to he happy about defeating you;

\par }{\QB he has enabled your enemies to
{\ADD{continually}} become stronger.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}I wish/desire that the walls of Jerusalem [APO]

\par }{\QB would cry out to Yahweh!

\par }{\Q You people of Jerusalem [MET],

\par }{\QB Cry day and night!

\par }{\QB Let your tears flow like rivers.

\par }{\Q Do not stop grieving;

\par }{\QB do not stop crying.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}Get up
{\ADD{every}} night and cry out;

\par }{\QB tell Yahweh what you are feeling.

\par }{\Q Raise your arms to plead to him

\par }{\QB to act mercifully to prevent our children from dying;

\par }{\Q they are fainting on the street corners

\par }{\QB because they have no food to eat.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{20}Yahweh, look, and think
{\ADD{about it}}!

\par }{\QB Have you ever [RHQ] caused people to suffer like this before?

\par }{\Q {\ADD{It is certainly not right that}} [RHQ] women are eating the flesh of their own children,

\par }{\QB the children whom they have always taken care of!

\par }{\Q {\ADD{It is not right that}} [RHQ] priests and prophets are being killed

\par }{\QB in your own temple!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{21}{\ADD{The corpses of}} people of all ages lie in the streets;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{there are even corpses of}} young men and young women who have been killed by
{\ADD{our enemies’}} swords.

\par }{\Q Because you were very angry,

\par }{\QB you caused them to be killed;

\par }{\Q you have slaughtered them

\par }{\QB without pitying them
{\ADD{at all}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{22}You summoned our enemies to attack us from every direction,

\par }{\QB as though you were calling/inviting them to come to a feast.

\par }{\Q At that time when
{\ADD{you showed that}} you were very angry,

\par }{\QB no one escaped.

\par }{\Q Our enemies murdered
{\ADD{our little children,}}

\par }{\QB ones whom we took care of and reared/brought up.




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Hope in the midst of distress
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}I
{\ADD{, the one who am writing this,}} am a man who has been afflicted/punished [MTY] by Yahweh

\par }{\QB because he was angry.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{It was as though}} he caused me to walk in a very dark place

\par }{\QB without any light
{\ADD{at all}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}He has punished [IDM] me many times,

\par }{\QB all day,
{\ADD{every}} day.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}He has caused my skin and my flesh to become old.

\par }{\QB He has broken my bones.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}He has surrounded me [DOU]

\par }{\QB with bitterness and suffering.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{It is as though}} he has buried me in a dark place

\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{the graves of}} those who have been dead for a long time.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{It is as though}} [MET] he has built a wall around me,

\par }{\QB and fastened/tied me with heavy chains,

\par }{\QB and I cannot escape.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Although I call out and cry out for him to help me,

\par }{\QB he does not pay attention to my prayers.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{It is as though}} he has blocked my path with a
{\ADD{high}} stone
{\ADD{wall}}

\par }{\QB and has caused my path to become crooked.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}He has waited to attack me

\par }{\QB like [SIM] a bear or a lion hides and waits
{\ADD{to attack other animals}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{It is as though}} he has dragged me off the path and ◄mauled me/torn me into pieces►,

\par }{\QB and left me without help.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{It is as though}} [MET] he bent his bow and caused me to become the target

\par }{\QB {\ADD{at which he shot}} his arrows.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{It is as though}} he shot his arrows deep into my body.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}All my relatives laugh at me;

\par }{\QB all day,
{\ADD{every}} day they sing songs that make fun of me.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}He has filled me with ◄bitterness/great suffering►,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like}} [MET] someone who drinks a very bitter liquid suffers.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{It is as though}} he has caused me to chew gravel that broke my teeth,

\par }{\QB and he has trampled me in the dirt.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Things no longer go well for me;

\par }{\QB I no longer remember being prosperous.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}I
{\ADD{continued to}} say
{\ADD{to myself}}, “I no longer expect to live much longer;

\par }{\QB I no longer confidently expect
{\ADD{to receive good things}} from Yahweh!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}When I think about my suffering and my wandering
{\ADD{away from home}},

\par }{\QB {\ADD{it is like drinking}} a very bitter [DOU] liquid.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}I will never forget this time

\par }{\QB when I feel very depressed/discouraged [IDM].


\par }{\Q \VS{21}However, I confidently expect
{\ADD{Yahweh to do good things for me again}}

\par }{\QB when I think about this:


\par }{\Q \VS{22}Yahweh never stops faithfully loving
{\ADD{us}},

\par }{\QB and he never stops being kind to us.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}{\ADD{He is the one whom we can}} always trust/lean on.

\par }{\QB Every morning he is merciful
{\ADD{to us again}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{24}{\ADD{So}} I say to myself, “Yahweh is all that I need;

\par }{\QB so I will confidently wait for him
{\ADD{to do good things for me}}.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{25}Yahweh is good to
{\ADD{all}} those who depend on him,

\par }{\QB to those who seek his
{\ADD{help}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{26}{\ADD{So}} it is good for us to wait quietly

\par }{\QB for Yahweh to save/rescue
{\ADD{us}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{27}And it is good for us to
{\ADD{patiently}} endure
{\ADD{suffering}}

\par }{\QB while we are young.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{28}Those
{\ADD{who seek his help}} should sit by themselves, silently,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{knowing that}} it is Yahweh who has allowed/caused them to suffer.


\par }{\Q \VS{29}They should lie in the dirt, with their faces on the ground,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because}} they can still hope
{\ADD{that Yahweh will help them}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{30}If someone strikes us on one cheek,

\par }{\QB we should turn the other cheek toward that person
{\ADD{in order that he may strike it, too}},

\par }{\QB and accept/endure it when we are insulted.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{31}Yahweh does not abandon
{\ADD{us his people}} forever.


\par }{\Q \VS{32}Sometimes he causes us to suffer,

\par }{\QB but sometimes he is kind
{\ADD{to us}}

\par }{\Q because he continually and faithfully loves
{\ADD{us}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{33}And he is not happy about causing human beings to suffer

\par }{\QB or to be sad.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{34}If people ◄mistreat all the prisoners/crush all the prisoners under their feet►


\par }{\Q \VS{35}or if they rebel against God

\par }{\QB by refusing to give to people the things that it is right for them
{\ADD{to receive}},


\par }{\Q \VS{36}or if they cause judges to decide matters unjustly,

\par }{\QB ◄does Yahweh not see all those things?/Yahweh certainly sees all those things!► [RHQ]


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{37}No one can [RHQ] command something to happen
{\ADD{and then cause it to happen}}

\par }{\QB if Yahweh has not already decided that it should happen.


\par }{\Q \VS{38}God in heaven [MTY] is [RHQ] the one who causes disasters to happen,

\par }{\QB and he
{\ADD{also}} causes good things to happen.


\par }{\Q \VS{39}{\ADD{So}} it is certainly not [RHQ] right for us, who are only humans, to complain

\par }{\QB when he punishes us for the sins that we have committed.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{40}Instead, we should ◄examine/think carefully about► our behavior;

\par }{\QB we should turn back to Yahweh.


\par }{\Q \VS{41}We should pray [IDM] sincerely and lift up our arms

\par }{\QB toward God in heaven,
{\ADD{and say,}}


\par }{\Q \VS{42}“We have sinned and rebelled
{\ADD{against you}},

\par }{\QB and you have not forgiven
{\ADD{us}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{43}You have surrounded us with your anger and pursued us;

\par }{\QB you have slaughtered
{\ADD{us}} without pitying us.


\par }{\Q \VS{44}You have hidden yourself in a cloud,

\par }{\QB with the result that you do not hear
{\ADD{us}} when we pray.


\par }{\Q \VS{45}You have caused
{\ADD{the people of other}} nations to consider us

\par }{\QB to be only garbage [DOU].


\par }{\Q \VS{46}All our enemies have insulted us.


\par }{\Q \VS{47}We are constantly afraid [DOU],

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because}} we have experienced disasters and ruin [DOU].”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{48}I cry a lot

\par }{\QB because my people have been destroyed.


\par }{\Q \VS{49}My tears continually flow;

\par }{\QB they will not stop


\par }{\Q \VS{50}until Yahweh looks down from heaven and sees
{\ADD{us}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{51}I am very grieved

\par }{\QB because of
{\ADD{what has happened to}} the women of my city.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{52}Those who are my enemies hunted for me

\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{people hunt for}} a bird
{\ADD{to kill it}}

\par }{\Q {\ADD{even though}} there was no reason
{\ADD{for them to do that}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{53}They threw me into a pit to kill me,

\par }{\QB and they threw stones on top of me.


\par }{\Q \VS{54}The water
{\ADD{in the pit}} rose above my head,

\par }{\QB and I said
{\ADD{to myself}}, “I am about to die/drown!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{55}But from the bottom of the pit I cried out to you [MTY],

\par }{\QB “Yahweh,
{\ADD{help me}}!”


\par }{\Q \VS{56}I pleaded with you,

\par }{\QB “Do not refuse to heed [MTY] me while I cry out to you!”


\par }{\Q \VS{57}Then you answered me

\par }{\QB and said, “Do not be afraid!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{58}Yahweh, you defended me;

\par }{\QB you did not allow me to die.


\par }{\Q \VS{59}{\ADD{Now}}, Yahweh, you have seen the evil things that my enemies have done to me,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{so}} decide my case
{\ADD{and show that I am right}}!


\par }{\Q \VS{60}You know the evil things

\par }{\QB that they have planned to do to me.


\par }{\Q \VS{61}Yahweh, you have heard them insult
{\ADD{me}}

\par }{\QB and what they have planned to do to me.


\par }{\Q \VS{62}Every day they whisper and mutter things about me,

\par }{\QB all day long.


\par }{\Q \VS{63}Look at them! Whether they are standing or sitting

\par }{\QB they make fun of me with the songs that they sing.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{64}Yahweh, cause them to suffer

\par }{\QB in return for their causing
{\ADD{me}} to suffer!


\par }{\Q \VS{65}Curse them [IDM]

\par }{\QB {\ADD{for}} their being very stubborn [IDM].


\par }{\Q \VS{66}Because you are angry with them, pursue them and get rid of them,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{until none of them remain}} on the earth.




\par }\Chap{4}{\SH What happened when Jerusalem was destroyed
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{Previously our people were like}} [MET] pure gold,

\par }{\QB but now they are worthless.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Like}} [MET] the sacred stones in the temple have been scattered,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{our young men have been scattered}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}The young men of Jerusalem were as valuable as [MET] large amounts of gold,

\par }{\QB but now people consider that they are as worthless as
{\ADD{ordinary}} clay pots.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}Even the
{\ADD{female}} jackals/wolves feed their pups,

\par }{\QB but my people act cruelly
{\ADD{toward their children}};

\par }{\Q they are like [SIM] ostriches in the desert
{\ADD{that abandon their eggs}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{My people’s}} infants’ tongues cling to the roofs/tops of their mouths

\par }{\QB because they are
{\ADD{extremely}} thirsty;

\par }{\Q the children plead for some food,

\par }{\QB but no one gives them
{\ADD{any}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}People who
{\ADD{previously}} ate fine food

\par }{\QB are
{\ADD{now}} starving in the streets;

\par }{\Q those who previously lived luxuriously [MTY]

\par }{\QB {\ADD{now}} paw/dig through rubbish heaps
{\ADD{to find some food}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{The people of}} Sodom were struck with a disaster very suddenly,

\par }{\QB and there was no one to rescue them;

\par }{\Q but my people have been punished

\par }{\QB more severely than
{\ADD{the people of}} Sodom were punished.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}Our leaders’
{\ADD{behavior}} was
{\ADD{previously}} very pure,

\par }{\QB whiter
{\ADD{and brighter}} than snow and milk;

\par }{\Q their bodies were redder than
{\ADD{red}} coral/stones;

\par }{\QB they were very strong and healthy [MET].


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}But now their faces are blacker than soot,

\par }{\QB and no one recognizes them in the streets.

\par }{\Q Their skin has shriveled on their bones,

\par }{\QB and it has become as dry as [SIM] a wooden
{\ADD{stick}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}It is better to die in a battle [MTY]

\par }{\QB than to die of hunger.

\par }{\Q There was no food to harvest in the fields,

\par }{\QB so the people slowly starved until they died.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}Women who
{\ADD{usually/previously}} were very kind

\par }{\QB have
{\ADD{killed and}} cooked their own children;

\par }{\Q they ate them
{\ADD{when there was no other food}},

\par }{\QB when Jerusalem was surrounded
{\ADD{by enemy soldiers}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}Yahweh has shown that he was extremely angry;

\par }{\Q {\ADD{it is as though}} he started/ignited a fire in Jerusalem

\par }{\QB that burned everything to ashes.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}None of the kings on the earth or anyone else

\par }{\QB believed that any of our enemies could enter the gates of Jerusalem.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{But that is what happened}};

\par }{\QB it happened because the prophets sinned;

\par }{\Q and the priests
{\ADD{also}} sinned

\par }{\QB by causing innocent people to be executed [MTY].


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}The prophets and priests wandered through the streets

\par }{\QB {\ADD{as though they were}} blind.

\par }{\Q No one would touch them

\par }{\QB because their clothes were stained with the blood
{\ADD{of people who had been killed}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}The people
{\ADD{who were alive}} shouted, “Stay away
{\ADD{from us}} [DOU]! You are defiled/untouchable!

\par }{\QB Do not touch us!”

\par }{\Q So the prophets and priests fled
{\ADD{from Israel}},

\par }{\QB and they wandered around from one country to another,

\par }{\QB because people
{\ADD{in each country}} kept saying to them, “You cannot stay here!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}It is Yahweh himself who has scattered them;

\par }{\QB he no longer is concerned about them.

\par }{\Q People do not respect
{\ADD{our}} priests or leaders.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}We [SYN] continued to look for someone to help
{\ADD{us}},

\par }{\QB but it was useless.

\par }{\Q We continued to watch to see if one of our allies would save us,

\par }{\QB but none of the nations that we were waiting for could help
{\ADD{us}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}{\ADD{Our}} enemies were hunting for us,

\par }{\QB so we could not
{\ADD{even}} walk in our streets
{\ADD{lest they seize us}}.

\par }{\Q We were about to be captured;

\par }{\QB it was time for us to be killed.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}Those who pursued us were faster than eagles
{\ADD{flying}} in the sky.

\par }{\Q Even if we fled to the mountains

\par }{\QB or hid in the desert,

\par }{\QB they
{\ADD{went there ahead of us and}} waited
{\ADD{to attack}} us.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{20}{\ADD{Our king,}} whom Yahweh appointed,

\par }{\QB was the one who enabled us to remain alive [MTY];

\par }{\Q he was the one whom we trusted to protect us [IDM]

\par }{\QB from
{\ADD{the armies of}} other nations.

\par }{\Q But he was
{\ADD{captured}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like animals are}} [MET] caught in a pit.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{21}You people of [IDM] Edom and Uz,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{you may}} be happy
{\ADD{about what is happening to us now}},

\par }{\Q but
{\ADD{Yahweh}} will be punishing [MTY] you
{\ADD{also}}.

\par }{\QB You will become drunk and will be ashamed

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because your enemies}} will have stripped off your clothes.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{22}You
{\ADD{people of}} [APO] Jerusalem,

\par }{\QB the time of your being punished will end;

\par }{\Q Yahweh will not allow you to continue to live in ◄exile/foreign countries►.

\par }{\QB But
{\ADD{you people of}} [APO] Edom, Yahweh will punish
{\ADD{you}};

\par }{\QB he will reveal the wicked things that you have done.




\par }\Chap{5}{\SH A prayer for God’s mercy
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Yahweh, think about what has happened to us.

\par }{\QB See that we have been disgraced.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Foreigners have seized our property,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and now}} they live in our homes.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{Our enemies}} have killed our fathers;

\par }{\QB they caused our mothers to become widows.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{Now}} we are required to pay for water to drink,

\par }{\QB and we must pay
{\ADD{a lot of money}} for firewood.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{It is as though}} those who pursue us are at our heels;

\par }{\QB we are exhausted, but they do not allow us to rest.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}In order to get enough food
{\ADD{to remain alive}},

\par }{\QB we went to Egypt and Assyria and offered to work
{\ADD{for the people there}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}Our ancestors sinned, and now they are dead,

\par }{\QB but we are being punished for the sins that they committed.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{Officials from Babylon}} who were
{\ADD{previously}} slaves
{\ADD{now}} rule over us,

\par }{\QB and there is no one who can rescue us from their power.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}When we roam around in the desert searching for food, we are in danger of being killed,

\par }{\QB because people there kill strangers with their swords.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Our skin has become hot like [SIM] an oven,

\par }{\QB and we have a very high fever because we are extremely hungry.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{Our enemies}} have raped the women in Jerusalem,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and they have done that to}} the young women in
{\ADD{all}} the towns of Judea.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{Our enemies}} have hanged our leaders,

\par }{\QB and they do not respect our elders.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}They force our young men to grind
{\ADD{flour}} with millstones,

\par }{\QB and boys stagger while they
{\ADD{are forced to}} carry
{\ADD{heavy}} loads of firewood.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{Our}} elders no longer sit at the city gates
{\ADD{to make important decisions}};

\par }{\QB the young men no longer play their musical
{\ADD{instruments}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}We [SYN] are no longer joyful;

\par }{\QB instead of dancing
{\ADD{joyfully}}, we now mourn.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}The wreaths
{\ADD{of flowers}} have fallen off our heads.

\par }{\QB Terrible things have happened to us because of the sins that we committed.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}We [SYN] are tired and discouraged [IDM],

\par }{\QB and we cannot see well because our eyes are
{\ADD{full of tears}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}Jerusalem is
{\ADD{completely}} deserted,

\par }{\QB and jackals/wolves prowl around it.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}But Yahweh, you rule forever!

\par }{\QB You continue to rule [MTY] from one generation to the next generation.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}{\ADD{So}} why [RHQ] have you forgotten us?

\par }{\QB Why [RHQ] have you abandoned us for a very long time?


\par }{\Q \VS{21}{\ADD{Please}} enable us to return to you,

\par }{\QB and enable us to prosper [MTY] as we did previously.


\par }{\Q \VS{22}Please do that, because we hope that [RHQ] you have not rejected us forever

\par }{\QB and that [RHQ] you do not continue to be extremely angry with us!


\par }