Psalms 80:5

80:5 You have given them tears as food; ¹ 

you have made them drink tears by the measure. ² 

Psalms 102:9

102:9 For I eat ashes as if they were bread, ³ 

and mix my drink with my tears, ⁴ 

Isaiah 30:20

30:20 The sovereign master ⁵  will give you distress to eat

and suffering to drink; ⁶ 

but your teachers will no longer be hidden;

your eyes will see them. ⁷ 

[80:5]  ¹ tn Heb “you have fed them the food of tears.”

[80:5]  ² tn Heb “[by] the third part [of a measure].” The Hebrew term שָׁלִישׁ (shalish, “third part [of a measure]”) occurs only here and in Isa 40:12.

[102:9]  ³ sn Mourners would sometimes put ashes on their head or roll in ashes as a sign of mourning (see 2 Sam 13:19; Job 2:8; Isa 58:5).

[102:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “weeping.”

[30:20]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).

[30:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the Master will give to you bread – distress, and water – oppression.”

[30:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “but your teachers will no longer be hidden, your eyes will be seeing your teachers.” The translation assumes that the form מוֹרֶיךָ (morekha) is a plural participle, referring to spiritual leaders such as prophets and priests. Another possibility is that the form is actually singular (see GKC 273-74 §93.ss) or a plural of respect, referring to God as the master teacher. See HALOT 560-61 s.v. III מוֹרֶה. For discussion of the views, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:560.