You have become cruel to me; ¹  with the strength of your hand you attack me. ² 

My enemies ask this cruel question about me, ¹  ‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’ ² 

Cruel rulers ¹  are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws. ² 

For they say cruel and deceptive things to me; they lie to me. ¹ 

lest you give your vigor ¹  to others and your years to a cruel person,

A kind person ¹  benefits ²  himself, ³  but a cruel person brings himself trouble. ⁴ 

An evil person seeks only rebellion, ¹  and so ²  a cruel messenger ³  will be sent against him.

Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, ¹  but who can stand before jealousy? ² 

My God, rescue me from the power ¹  of the wicked, from the hand of the cruel oppressor!

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their fury, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel! ¹ 

A righteous person cares for ¹  the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts ²  of the wicked are cruel.

ג (Gimel) Even the jackals ¹  nurse their young at their breast, ²  but my people ³  are cruel, like ostriches ⁴  in the desert.

This was the one who exploited ¹  our people ²  and was cruel to our ancestors, ³  forcing them to abandon ⁴  their infants so they would die. ⁵ 

Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride forth on their horses. Lined up in formation like men going into battle to attack you, Daughter Zion.’” ¹ 

Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride forth on their horses. Lined up in formation like men going into battle, they are coming against you, fair Babylon! ¹