78 Heb “prisoners of earth/land.” The term ארץ may refer to (1) the earth or (2) a country or (3) the promised land in particular (as well as other referents). “Earth” is chosen here since the context presents God’s general principles in dealing with humanity. Given the historical circumstances, however, prisoners from the land of Israel are certainly in the background.
79 The speaking voice is still that of the גֶּבֶר (gever, “man”), but the context and line are more universal in character.
80 Heb “to turn away a man’s justice,” that is, the justice or equitable judgment he would receive. See the previous note regarding the “man.”
81 The reads אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “the Lord”) here rather than יהוה (YHWH, “the Lord”). See the note at 1:14.
82 Heb “the Lord does not see.” The verb רָאָה (ra’ah, “to see”) is here used in reference to mental observation and approval: “to gaze at” with joy and pleasure (e.g., 2 Kgs 10:16; Mic 7:9; Jer 29:32; Isa 52:8; Job 20:17; 33:28; Pss 54:7; 106:5; 128:5; Son 3:11; 6:11; Eccl 2:1). If the line is parallel to the end of v. 35 then a circumstantial clause “the Lord not seeing” would be appropriate. The infinitives in 34–36 would then depend on the verbs in v. 33; see D. R. Hillers, Lamentations (), .

In other versions

To crush underfoot

all the prisoners of the earth,

to deny a man justice

in the presence of the Most High,

to subvert a man in his lawsuit,

the Lord does not approve.

To crush underfoot

all prisoners in the land,

to deny people their rights

before the Most High,

to deprive them of justice—

would not the Lord see such things?

Crushing all the prisoners of the land

beneath one’s feet,

denying justice to a man

in the presence of the Most High,

or subverting a person in his lawsuit —

the Lord does not approve of these things.

If people crush underfoot

all the prisoners of the land,

if they deprive others of their rights

in defiance of the Most High,

if they twist justice in the courts—

doesn’t the Lord see all these things?

To crush under his feet

all the prisoners of the earth;

to deprive one of justice

before the face of the Most High;

to subvert a person in a legal dispute

—the Lord has not found delight in these things.

To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,

To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,

To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

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