Lamentations 3:28

NET ©

י (Yod) Let a person 1  sit alone in silence, when the Lord 2  is disciplining him. 3 

NIV ©

Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him.

NASB ©

Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid it on him.

NLT ©

Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD’s demands.

MSG ©

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

BBE ©

Let him be seated by himself, saying nothing, because he has put it on him.

NRSV ©

to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it,

NKJV ©

Let him sit alone and keep silent, Because God has laid it on him;

KJV
He sitteth
<03427> (8799)
alone
<0910>
and keepeth silence
<01826> (8799)_,
because he hath borne
<05190> (8804)
[it] upon him.
HEBREW
wyle
<05921>
ljn
<05190>
yk
<03588>
Mdyw
<01826>
ddb
<0910>
bsy (3:28)
<03427>
LXXM
kayhsetai
<2521>  
V-FMI-3S
kata
<2596>  
PREP
monav
<3441>  
A-APF
kai
<2532>  
CONJ
siwphsetai
<4623>  
V-FMI-3S
oti
<3754>  
CONJ
hren
<142>  
V-AAI-3S
ef
<1909>  
PREP
eautw
<1438>  
D-DSM
NET © [draft] ITL
י(Yod) Let a person sit
<03427>
alone
<0910>
in silence
<01826>
, when
<03588>
the Lord is disciplining
<05190>
him.
NET © Notes

1 tn Heb “him.” The speaking voice in this chapter continues to be that of the גֶּבֶר (gever, “man”). The image of female Jerusalem in chs. 1-2 was fluid, being able to refer to the city or its inhabitants, both female and male. So too the “defeated soldier” or “everyman” (see note at 3:1 on “man”) is fluid and can represent any member of the Jewish community, male and female. This line especially has a proverbial character which can be extended to any person, hence the translation. But masculine pronouns are otherwise maintained reflecting the Hebrew grammatical system and the speaking voice of the poem.

2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

3 tn Heb “has laid it on him.” The verb נָטַל (natal) is used 4 times in Biblical Hebrew; the related noun refers to heaviness or a burden. The entry of BDB 642 s.v. is outdated while HALOT 694 s.v. נטל is acceptable for the Qal. See D. R. Hillers, Lamentations (AB), 57. Hillers’ suggestion of a stative meaning for the Qal is followed here, though based on 2 Sam 24:12 “impose” is also possible.