44:13 You made us 1 an object of disdain to our neighbors;
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us. 2
44:14 You made us 3 an object of ridicule 4 among the nations;
foreigners treat us with contempt. 5
44:16 before the vindictive enemy
who ridicules and insults me. 6
1 tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).
2 tn Heb “an [object of] taunting and [of] mockery to those around us.”
3 tn The prefixed verbal form is a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive).
4 tn Heb “a proverb,” or “[the subject of] a mocking song.”
5 tn Heb “a shaking of the head among the peoples.” Shaking the head was a derisive gesture (see Jer 18:16; Lam 2:15).
6 tn Heb “from the voice of one who ridicules and insults, from the face of an enemy and an avenger.” See Ps 8:2.