38:11 Because of my condition, 1 even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; 2
my neighbors stand far away. 3
י (Yod)
3:28 Let a person 4 sit alone in silence,
when the Lord 5 is disciplining him. 6
3:29 Let him bury his face in the dust; 7
perhaps there is hope.
3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him; 8
let him have his fill of insults.
1 tn Or “wound,” or “illness.”
2 tn Heb “stand [aloof].”
3 tn Heb “and the ones near me off at a distance stand.”
4 tn Heb “him.” The speaking voice in this chapter continues to be that of the גֶּבֶר (gever, “man”). The image of female Jerusalem in chs. 1-2 was fluid, being able to refer to the city or its inhabitants, both female and male. So too the “defeated soldier” or “everyman” (see note at 3:1 on “man”) is fluid and can represent any member of the Jewish community, male and female. This line especially has a proverbial character which can be extended to any person, hence the translation. But masculine pronouns are otherwise maintained reflecting the Hebrew grammatical system and the speaking voice of the poem.
5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
6 tn Heb “has laid it on him.” The verb נָטַל (natal) is used 4 times in Biblical Hebrew; the related noun refers to heaviness or a burden. The entry of BDB 642 s.v. is outdated while HALOT 694 s.v. נטל is acceptable for the Qal. See D. R. Hillers, Lamentations (AB), 57. Hillers’ suggestion of a stative meaning for the Qal is followed here, though based on 2 Sam 24:12 “impose” is also possible.
7 tn Heb “Let him put his mouth in the dust.”
8 tn Heb “to the smiter.”