Lamentations 1:21

The second and third lines are metrically irregular, as failing to fulfil the conditions of the "limping rhythm" of the Ḳinah. (See Intr. p. 321 f.) Löhr accordingly transposes "They are glad … done it" and "Thou wilt bring … proclaimed."

They have heard This verb has perhaps been assimilated to the "have heard" of the next line. If so, by a very slight change in MT., we get an imperative, Hear thou. Cp. the imperative "Behold" at the commencement of Lamentations 1:20.

Thou wilt bring lit. Thou hast brought(a prophetic perfect). The day here spoken of is the day of retribution for Judah's enemies. Cp. Jeremiah 25:17-26, in which passage Jerusalem and the neighbouring nations are all united in the same figure, as drinking in common of the cup of God's wrath. For the use of "day" in the sense of destined time Greenup quotes Chaucer, Channones Yemannes Tale, II. I5 f.

The arrangement of the second and third lines of the v. in MT. is metrically irregular. Löhr is probably right in transposing two clauses, and thus reading,

"All mine enemies have heard of my trouble, thou hast brought the day that thou didst proclaim;

They are glad that thou hast done it, let them be like unto me."

He thus makes "the day" to be that of Judah's fall as foretold by the prophets, and makes the last clause expressive of a wish. It has also been suggested that for "Thou wilt bring" we should read the imperative, Bring thou.