Lamentations 4:18–22

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ץ (Tsade)

^4:18Our enemies⁵⁸ hunted us down at every step⁵⁹

so that we could not walk about in our streets.

Our end drew near, our days were numbered,⁶⁰

for our end had come!

ק (Qof)

^4:19Those who pursued us were swifter

than eagles⁶¹ in the sky.⁶²

They chased us over the mountains;

they ambushed us in the wilderness.

ר (Resh)

^4:20Our very life breath—the Lord’s anointed king⁶³—

was caught in their traps,⁶⁴

of whom we thought,⁶⁵

“Under his protection⁶⁶ we will survive among the nations.”

The Prophet Speaks:

ש (Sin/Shin)

^4:21Rejoice and be glad for now,⁶⁷ O people of Edom,⁶⁸

who reside in the land of Uz.

But the cup of judgment⁶⁹ will pass⁷⁰ to you also;

you will get drunk and take off your clothes.

ת (Tav)

^4:22O people of Zion,⁷¹ your punishment⁷² will come to an end;⁷³

he will not prolong your exile.⁷⁴

But, O people of Edom,⁷⁵ he will punish⁷⁶ your sin⁷⁷

and reveal⁷⁸ your offenses!

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Footnotes

58 Heb “they”; this has been specified in the translation as “our enemies” for clarity.
59 Heb “they hunted our steps.”
60 Heb “our days were full.”
61 The bird referred to here could be one of several species of eagles, but more likely is the griffin-vulture (cf. “vultures”). However, because eagles are more commonly associated with swiftness than vultures in contemporary English, “eagles” was used in the translation.
62 Or “in the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
63 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.”
64 Heb “was captured in their pits.”
65 Heb “of whom we had said.”
66 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).
67 The phrase “for now” is added in the translation to highlight the implied contrast between the present joy of the Gentiles (4:21a) and their future judgment (4:21b).
68 Heb “O Daughter of Edom.”
69 Heb “the cup.” Judgment is often depicted as a cup of wine that God forces a person to drink, causing him to lose consciousness, red wine drooling out of his mouth—resembling corpses lying on the ground as a result of the actual onslaught of the Lord’s judgment. The drunkard will reel and stagger, causing bodily injury to himself—an apt metaphor to describe the devastating effects of God’s judgment. Just as a cup of poison kills all those who are forced to drink it, the cup of God’s wrath destroys all those who must drink it (e.g., Ps 75:9; Isa 51:17, 22; Jer 25:15, 17, 28; 49:12; 51:7; Lam 4:21; Ezek 23:33; Hab 2:16).
70 The imperfect verb “will pass” may also be a jussive, continuing the element of request, “let the cup pass …”
71 Heb “O Daughter Zion.”
72 Heb “your iniquity.” The noun עָוֹן (’avon) has a broad range of meanings, including: (1) iniquity, (2) guilt of iniquity, and (3) consequence or punishment for iniquity (cause-effect metonymical relation). The context suggests that “punishment for sin” is most appropriate here (e.g., Gen 4:13; 19:15; Exod 28:38, 43; Lev 5:1, 17; 7:18; 10:17; 16:22; 17:16; 19:8; 20:17, 19; 22:16; 26:39, 41, 43; Num 5:31; 14:34; 18:1, 23; 30:15; 1 Sam 25:24; 28:10; 2 Sam 14:9; 2 Kgs 7:9; Job 10:14; Pss 31:11; 69:28; 106:43; Prov 5:22; Isa 5:18; 30:13; 40:2; 53:6, 11; 64:5, 6; Jer 51:6; Lam 4:22; 5:7; Ezek 4:4–6, 17; 7:16; 14:10; 18:19–20; 21:30, 34; 24:23; 32:27; 35:5; 39:23; 44:10, 12).
73 Heb “will be completed.” The perfect tense verb תַּם (tam), Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular from תָּמַם (tamam, “to be complete”), could be taken as a precative perfect expressing a request (“may your punishment be complete”). The translation understands it as an example of the so-called “prophetic perfect.” The perfect tense often describes actions that are viewed as complete (normally past- or present-time events). When the perfect tense describes a future event, it often depicts it as “complete,” that is, “as good as done” or certain to take place from the viewpoint of the prophet. Thus, by using the perfect tense, Jeremiah may be emphasizing the certainty that the exile will eventually come to an end. It has also been viewed as a simple perfect “your punishment is ended.”
74 The verb לֹא יוֹסִיף (lo’ yosif) could be taken as a precative perfect, making a request to God. See the note at the beginning of the verse.
75 Heb “O Daughter of Edom.”
76 The verb פָּקַד (paqad) could be taken as a precative perfect, making a request to God. See the note at the beginning of the verse.
77 The noun עָוֹן (’avon) is repeated twice in this verse: its first occurrence means “punishment for iniquity” (v. 22a), and its second usage means “iniquity” (v. 22b). See preceding translator’s note on the broad range of meanings of this word. The repetition of the same root with different meanings creates an ironic polysemantic wordplay: Zion’s “punishment” for its sin is about to come to an end; however, the punishment for Edom’s “sin” is about to begin.
78 The verb גִּלָּה (gillah) could be taken as a precative perfect, making a request to God. See the note at the beginning of the verse.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

They dogged our steps

so that we could not walk in our streets;

our end drew near; our days were numbered,

for our end had come.

Our pursuers were swifter

than the eagles in the heavens;

they chased us on the mountains;

they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

The breath of our nostrils, the Lord’s anointed,

was captured in their pits,

of whom we said, “Under his shadow

we shall live among the nations.”

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,

you who dwell in the land of Uz;

but to you also the cup shall pass;

you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.

The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished;

he will keep you in exile no longer;

but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish;

he will uncover your sins.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

People stalked us at every step,

so we could not walk in our streets.

Our end was near, our days were numbered,

for our end had come.

Our pursuers were swifter

than eagles in the sky;

they chased us over the mountains

and lay in wait for us in the desert.

The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath,

was caught in their traps.

We thought that under his shadow

we would live among the nations.

Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,

you who live in the land of Uz.

But to you also the cup will be passed;

you will be drunk and stripped naked.

Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;

he will not prolong your exile.

But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,

and expose your wickedness.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Our steps were closely followed

so that we could not walk in our streets.

Our end approached; our time ran out.

Our end had come!

Those who chased us were swifter

than eagles in the sky;

they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains

and ambushed us in the wilderness.

The Lord’s anointed, the breath of our life,

was captured in their traps.

We had said about him,

“We will live under his protection among the nations.”

So rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,

you resident of the land of Uz!

Yet the cup will pass to you as well;

you will get drunk and expose yourself.

Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete;

he will not lengthen your exile.

But he will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom,

and will expose your sins.

NLTNew Living Translation

We couldn’t go into the streets

without danger to our lives.

Our end was near; our days were numbered.

We were doomed!

Our enemies were swifter than eagles in flight.

If we fled to the mountains, they found us.

If we hid in the wilderness,

they were waiting for us there.

Our king—the Lord’s anointed, the very life of our nation—

was caught in their snares.

We had thought that his shadow

would protect us against any nation on earth!

Are you rejoicing in the land of Uz,

O people of Edom?

But you, too, must drink from the cup of the Lord’s anger.

You, too, will be stripped naked in your drunkenness.

O beautiful Jerusalem, your punishment will end;

you will soon return from exile.

But Edom, your punishment is just beginning;

soon your many sins will be exposed.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

They hunted our steps,

from walking in our streets;

our end has come near, our days are finished,

our end has come.

Our pursuers were swifter

than the eagles of the heavens;

they chased us on the mountains,

they have set an ambush for us in the desert.

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed one of Yahweh,

was captured in their pits;

of whom we said, “In his shadow

we will live among the nations.”

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,

you who dwell in the land of Uz;

but to you also the cup will pass,

you will become drunk and strip yourself bare.

The punishment of your iniquity is completed, O daughter of Zion,

your exile will not continue;

but he will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom,

he will reveal your sins.

KJV 1900King James Version

They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets:

Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven:

They pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits,

Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz;

The cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity:

He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.

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