Jeremiah 15:18

15:18 Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish?

Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound?

Will you let me down when I need you

like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?” ¹ 

Joshua 9:10-11

9:10 and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan – King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth. 9:11 Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, “We are willing to be your subjects. ²  Make a treaty with us.”’

Lamentations 3:39

3:39 Why should any living person ³  complain

when punished for his sins? ⁴ 

Micah 7:9

7:9 I must endure ⁵  the Lord’s anger,

for I have sinned against him.

But then ⁶  he will defend my cause, ⁷ 

and accomplish justice on my behalf.

He will lead me out into the light;

I will experience firsthand ⁸  his deliverance. ⁹ 

¹ tn Heb “Will you be to me like a deceptive (brook), like waters which do not last [or are not reliable].”

² tn Heb “your servants.”

³ tn The Hebrew word here is אָדָם (’adam) which can mean “man” or “person.” The second half of the line is more personalized to the speaking voice of the defeated soldier using גֶּבֶר (gever, “man”). See the note at 3:1.

⁴ tc Kethib reads the singular חֶטְאוֹ (khet’o, “his sin”), which is reflected in the LXX. Qere reads the plural חֲטָאָיו (khata’ayv, “his sins”) which is preserved in many medieval Hebrew mss and reflected in the other early versions (Aramaic Targum, Syriac Peshitta, Latin Vulgate). The external and internal evidence are not decisive in favor of either reading.

⁵ tn Heb “lift, bear.”

⁶ tn Heb “until.”

⁷ tn Or “plead my case” (NASB and NIV both similar); NRSV “until he takes my side.”

⁸ tn Heb “see.”

⁹ tn Or “justice, vindication.”