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16 Pursuing you, your enemies cut you down.

Enemies: Ha! Would the day ever come? We’ve got her now!
        Look, we’ve swallowed her whole, destroyed her.
    We waited anxiously for today,
        and we made it happen!

17 Question the Eternal One about what He has done.
    He determined—punished according to the term and tenets
He laid down so long ago.
    He executed fierce destruction without pity
And made your enemy glad.
    He has made them prevail with might.

18 Raise your cry to the Lord with all your might!
    Take no relief; be ceaseless in grief.

Lady Jerusalem: Oh walls, may your stones cry out,
        cry out for daughter Zion;
    Make rivers with tears of sorrow, rushing.
        Do not cease from your weeping.

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16 All your enemies open their mouths
    wide against you;(A)
they scoff and gnash their teeth(B)
    and say, “We have swallowed her up.(C)
This is the day we have waited for;
    we have lived to see it.”(D)

17 The Lord has done what he planned;
    he has fulfilled(E) his word,
    which he decreed long ago.(F)
He has overthrown you without pity,(G)
    he has let the enemy gloat over you,(H)
    he has exalted the horn[a] of your foes.(I)

18 The hearts of the people
    cry out to the Lord.(J)
You walls of Daughter Zion,(K)
    let your tears(L) flow like a river
    day and night;(M)
give yourself no relief,
    your eyes no rest.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 2:17 Horn here symbolizes strength.