But this I call to mind is treated by some translations as pointing back to what has already been said. But it is more convincing for this to point forward to the thoughts of verses 22-25. Good News Translation and others make clear that this points forward, by saying “When I remember this one thing:….” Most translations use a colon to show that the thought of verse 21 is carried forward into verse 22; however, punctuation is not always sufficient for hearers, and so a clear forward linking should be made. A good example is found in Moffatt, who begins verse 22 with “that”: “But I will call to mind, to give me hope, (22) that the Eternal’s love is lasting….” We may also translate, for example, “I have hope when I remember (22) that the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases….”

In many languages hope is more related to wishing than to confidence. Here the poet is stating his confidence in God’s love and mercy, not merely wishing that it might be so. “Hope returns” in Good News Translation must be expressed differently in many languages so that a subject expresses the feeling of hope; for example, “I have confidence when I remember this:…” or “I put my trust in it when I remember this:….”

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 .