The first half-line of verse 36 is parallel in meaning to the first half-line of verse 35. Subvert means to corrupt, pervert, twist. Man in the Hebrew is ʾadam and refers to people in general, not just to an adult male, singular or plural. In his cause: cause in this context refers to his legal case, or more particularly his court case, lawsuit. Therefore we may translate as in Good News Translation, or say, for example, “When someone prevents justice from being carried out in the court…” or “If someone is prevented from getting what is right in his lawsuit….”

For discussion of the second half-line, see the comments on the whole section of verses 34-36 above.

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 .