Surely against me he turns his hand: surely translates a Hebrew particle that gives certainty or emphasis to the following statement and is sometimes rendered “certainly, indeed, it is so.” However, it can also be restrictive in sense, meaning “only,” that is, “only against me….” “Turn his hand against” is an expression not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. However, it is generally thought to be parallel in meaning to Job 19.21: “The hand of God has struck me down” (Good News Translation). See also Psalm 38.2; Isaiah 5.25. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “His fist always strikes only on me.” This may also be rendered, for example, “Certainly his hand strikes me down” or “He lays a heavy hand on me alone.” Some languages will not be able to use an expression with hand having the meaning here. They may say, for example, “he beat me,” “he knocked me down,” or “he hit me.”

Again and again represents the repeated action of striking (turning) and is formed by the use of two verbs meaning to turn, literally “against me he turns and returns his hand all the day.” The whole day long expresses the extent and emphasizes the continued action of being struck. Good News Translation “beats me again and again with merciless blows” expresses more the manner than the extent.

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 .