OET interlinear LAM 2:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נָ֣טָה קָ֔ו

stretched_out line

The writer is speaking of God’s careful planning for destruction as if God had stretched out the measuring line like a builder measuring before construction. However, God measured not to build but to tear down. If your language does not use this image, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [He carefully planned the destruction]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לֹא־הֵשִׁ֥יב יָד֖⁠וֹ מִ⁠בַּלֵּ֑עַ

not (Some words not found in UHB: determined YHWH to,destroy wall_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) stretched_out line not withhold his/its=hand from,swallowing_up and,he_has_caused_to_mourn rampart and,wall together languished )

The writer is speaking of God’s destructive action as if God were swallowing up the city, consuming it completely. The phrase his hand represents God’s active power. If your language does not use this image, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [he did not hold back from completely destroying it]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וַ⁠יַּֽאֲבֶל־חֵ֥ל וְ⁠חוֹמָ֖ה יַחְדָּ֥ו אֻמְלָֽלוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: determined YHWH to,destroy wall_of daughter_of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) stretched_out line not withhold his/its=hand from,swallowing_up and,he_has_caused_to_mourn rampart and,wall together languished )

The writer speaks of the rampart and wall as if they were people who could mourn and languish. He says this because they lie in ruins. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [And he caused the rampart and wall to fall into ruins]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

חֵ֥ל וְ⁠חוֹמָ֖ה

rampart and,wall

The writer is referring to all of Jerusalem’s defensive structures by naming two major components, the rampart and the wall. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [all of Jerusalem’s defenses]