In verse 64 the poet asks God to pay back his enemies in proportion to what they have done to him. Requite means repay, give back harm for harm received, take vengeance. The idea is also expressed in Psalm 28.4, “Requite them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; requite them according to the work of their hands….” Good News Translation “punish” fails to express the revenge motive which is in the poet’s words.

According to the work of their hands means “as they deserve, in proportion to what they have done,” and in this case this means what they have done to the poet. We may also translate, for example, “Make them suffer in the way they made me suffer.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on Lamentations. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .