Lamentations 3:2

3:2 He drove me into captivity ¹  and made me walk ² 

in darkness and not light.

Lamentations 3:66

3:66 Pursue them ³  in anger and eradicate them

from under the Lord’s heaven.

Lamentations 5:18

5:18 For wild animals ⁴  are prowling over Mount Zion,

which lies desolate.

[3:2]  ¹ tn The verb נָהַג (nahag) describes the process of directing (usually a group of) something along a route, hence commonly “to drive,” when describing flocks, caravans, or prisoners and spoils of war (1 Sam 23:5; 30:2). But with people it may also have a positive connotation “to shepherd” or “to guide” (Ps 48:14; 80:1). The line plays on this through the reversal of expectations. Rather than being safely shepherded by the Lord their king, he has driven them away into captivity.

[3:2]  ² tn The Hiphil of הָלַךְ (halakh, “to walk”) may be nuanced either “brought” (BDB 236 s.v. 1) or “caused to walk” (BDB 237 s.v. 5.a).

[3:66]  ³ tn Heb “pursue.” The accusative direct object is implied in the Hebrew, and inserted in the translation.

[5:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “jackals.” The term “jackals” is a synecdoche of species (= jackals) for general (= wild animals).