uW Translation Notes:

General Information:

The words “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the people of Judah.

Connecting Statement:

Connecting Statement:

Yahweh continues his message by telling us what the people of Judah will say at the time of their punishment.

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

(Occurrence 0) Why are we sitting here?

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in what we sitting gather_together and,let_us_go to/towards cities_of of_(the),fortification so,that_we_may_perish there that/for/because/then/when YHWH God_of,our he,has_caused_us_to_perish and,he,has_given_us_to_drink water_of head that/for/because/then/when sinned to/for=YHWH )

This question is asked to motivate action. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question as a statement. Alternate translation: [We should not stay here.]

(Occurrence 0) Come together; let us go to the fortified cities

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in what we sitting gather_together and,let_us_go to/towards cities_of of_(the),fortification so,that_we_may_perish there that/for/because/then/when YHWH God_of,our he,has_caused_us_to_perish and,he,has_given_us_to_drink water_of head that/for/because/then/when sinned to/for=YHWH )

The “fortified cities” were cities with high walls and strong defenses. See how you translated the similar phrases in Jeremiah 4:5.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) we will become silent there in death

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in what we sitting gather_together and,let_us_go to/towards cities_of of_(the),fortification so,that_we_may_perish there that/for/because/then/when YHWH God_of,our he,has_caused_us_to_perish and,he,has_given_us_to_drink water_of head that/for/because/then/when sinned to/for=YHWH )

Here “become silent” means to die. Alternate translation: [let us die there] or [let us wait for our enemies to kill us there]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) For Yahweh our God will silence us

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in what we sitting gather_together and,let_us_go to/towards cities_of of_(the),fortification so,that_we_may_perish there that/for/because/then/when YHWH God_of,our he,has_caused_us_to_perish and,he,has_given_us_to_drink water_of head that/for/because/then/when sinned to/for=YHWH )

Here “silence” is a metaphor for condemning to death. Alternate translation: [because Yahweh our God has condemned us to die]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

(Occurrence 0) He will make us drink poison

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in what we sitting gather_together and,let_us_go to/towards cities_of of_(the),fortification so,that_we_may_perish there that/for/because/then/when YHWH God_of,our he,has_caused_us_to_perish and,he,has_given_us_to_drink water_of head that/for/because/then/when sinned to/for=YHWH )

This is an idiom for Yahweh’s judgment on his people.