OET interlinear LAM 2:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

דָּרַ֨ךְ קַשְׁתּ֜⁠וֹ כְּ⁠אוֹיֵ֗ב נִצָּ֤ב יְמִינ⁠וֹ֙ כְּ⁠צָ֔ר

(Some words not found in UHB: bent bow_of,his like,an_enemy set hand_of,his_right like,a_foe and,he_has_killed all was_the_delight_of eye in,the_tent_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) poured_out like,fire rage_of,his )

The writer uses comparisons to describe God’s hostility toward his own people. He says that God has bent his bow like an enemy; his right hand is stationed like an adversary, meaning that God has prepared to attack his people the way an enemy would and has taken the stance of one ready to fight against them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [He has prepared to attack us as an enemy would; he has positioned himself to fight against us like an adversary]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

יְמִינ⁠וֹ֙

hand_of,his_right

Here, his right hand represents God’s power and ability to act. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [his power]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

כֹּ֖ל מַחֲמַדֵּי־עָ֑יִן

(Some words not found in UHB: bent bow_of,his like,an_enemy set hand_of,his_right like,a_foe and,he_has_killed all was_the_delight_of eye in,the_tent_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) poured_out like,fire rage_of,his )

Here, the eye represents sight and what is pleasing to behold. The phrase the delights of the eye refers to everything people treasured and found beautiful. Some understand this as referring specifically to the fine young men of Judah. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [everything they treasured] or [all the finest young men]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

בְּ⁠אֹ֨הֶל֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן

(Some words not found in UHB: bent bow_of,his like,an_enemy set hand_of,his_right like,a_foe and,he_has_killed all was_the_delight_of eye in,the_tent_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) poured_out like,fire rage_of,his )

The writer speaks of Zion as if it were a woman, calling it the daughter of Zion, and he describes the city as her tent or dwelling place. For more information, see the Lamentations 2 Introduction. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea in another way here and in verse 18. Alternate translation: [In the city of Jerusalem]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

שָׁפַ֥ךְ כָּ⁠אֵ֖שׁ חֲמָתֽ⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: bent bow_of,his like,an_enemy set hand_of,his_right like,a_foe and,he_has_killed all was_the_delight_of eye in,the_tent_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) poured_out like,fire rage_of,his )

The writer uses a comparison to describe God’s anger. He says that God has poured out his anger like fire, meaning that God’s anger has been destructive and consuming. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [his anger has been as destructive as fire]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

שָׁפַ֥ךְ כָּ⁠אֵ֖שׁ חֲמָתֽ⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: bent bow_of,his like,an_enemy set hand_of,his_right like,a_foe and,he_has_killed all was_the_delight_of eye in,the_tent_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) poured_out like,fire rage_of,his )

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of anger, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [he has shown how angry he is by burning like fire]