Lamentations 5:7

Our forefathers ¹  sinned and are dead, ²  but we ³  suffer ⁴  their punishment. ⁵ 

Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.

Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have borne their iniquities.

It was our ancestors who sinned, but they died before the hand of judgment fell. We have suffered the punishment they deserved!

Our parents sinned and are no more, and now we're paying for the wrongs they did.

Our fathers were sinners and are dead; and the weight of their evil-doing is on us.

Our ancestors sinned; they are no more, and we bear their iniquities.

Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities.

Our forefathers ¹  sinned and are dead, ²  but we ³  suffer ⁴  their punishment. ⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “fathers,” but here the term also refers to “forefathers,” i.e., more distant ancestors.

² tn Heb “and are no more.”

³ tc The Kethib is written אֲנַחְנוּ (’anakhnu, “we”) but the Qere reads וַאֲנַחְנוּ (va’anakhnu, “but we”). The Qere is supported by many medieval Hebrew mss, as well as most of the ancient versions (Aramaic Targum, Syriac Peshitta, Latin Vulgate). The ו (vav) prefixed to וַאֲנַחְנוּ (va’anakhnu) functions either in a disjunctive sense (“but”) or resultant sense (“so”).

⁴ tn Heb “so we bear.”

⁵ tn Heb “their iniquities.” The noun עָוֹן (’avon) has a broad range of meanings, including: (1) iniquity, (2) guilt of iniquity, and (3) consequence or punishment for iniquity (cause-effect metonymical relation). The context suggests that “punishment for sin” is most appropriate here (e.g., Gen 4:13; 19:15; Exod 28:38, 43; Lev 5:1, 17; 7:18; 10:17; 16:22; 17:16; 19:8; 20:17, 19; 22:16; 26:39, 41, 43; Num 5:31; 14:34; 18:1, 23; 30:15; 1 Sam 25:24; 28:10; 2 Sam 14:9; 2 Kgs 7:9; Job 10:14; Pss 31:11; 69:28; 106:43; Prov 5:22; Isa 5:18; 30:13; 40:2; 53:6, 11; 64:5, 6; Jer 51:6; Lam 4:22; 5:7; Ezek 4:4-6, 17; 7:16; 14:10; 18:19-20; 21:30, 34; 24:23; 32:27; 35:5; 39:23; 44:10, 12).