34 This probably refers to his zeal for his people, which motivates him to angrily strike out against their enemies.
35 The Hebrew text reads literally, “the agitation of your intestines and your compassion to me they are held back.” The phrase “agitation of your intestines” is metonymic, referring to the way in which one’s nervous system reacts when one feels pity and compassion toward another. אֵלַי (’elay, “to me”) is awkward in this context, where the speaker represents the nation and, following the introduction (see v. 7), utilizes first person plural forms. The translation assumes an emendation to the negative particle אַל (’al). This also necessitates emending the following verb form (which is a plural perfect) to a singular jussive (תִתְאַפָּק, tit’appaq). The Hitpael of אָפַק (’afaq) also occurs in 42:14.

In other versions

Look down from heaven and see,

from your holy and beautiful habitation.

Where are your zeal and your might?

The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion

are held back from me.

Look down from heaven and see,

from your lofty throne, holy and glorious.

Where are your zeal and your might?

Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.

Look down from heaven and see

from your lofty home—holy and beautiful.

Where is your zeal and your might?

Your yearning and your compassion

are withheld from me.

Lord, look down from heaven;

look from your holy, glorious home, and see us.

Where is the passion and the might

you used to show on our behalf?

Where are your mercy and compassion now?

Look from heaven,

and see from the lofty residence of your holiness and glory.

Where are your zeal and strength?

Your compassion and mercy to me hold themselves back.

Look down from heaven, and behold

From the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory:

Where is thy zeal and thy strength,

The sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

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