There is close parallelism between the first and third units of this verse with their reference to elders and maidens. The reference to old and young and to men and women suggests that all the survivors of Jerusalem are in mourning.

The elders of the daughter of Zion: elders translates the same word used in 1.19, where the elders were associated with priests and were called “leaders, rulers.” Here, however, elders are more appropriately “old men” in contrast to “young women.” For daughter of Zion see 1.6.

To sit on the ground in silence is an action done to show their sadness.

Dust on their heads … sackcloth: the attitude of the old men resembles that of Job’s sorrowing friends as described in Job 2.12. Sackcloth was a coarse type of cloth worn as a sign of mourning and penitence. This was sometimes worn next to the skin, as in the description of the king in 2 Kings 6.30. In some languages it is necessary to state clearly that the purpose of the dust on the head and sackcloth on the body is a sign of mourning in this context; for example, “The old men … have put dust on their heads and coarse cloth on their bodies to show the people they are mourning for the dead.” In some cultures mourners use other symbols for the same purpose; for example “The old men … have painted their bodies because they are mourning for the dead.” Generally it will be preferable to use the Hebrew custom, with a footnote to explain its meaning, or provide the equivalent custom.

The maidens of Jerusalem: see comments on 1.4.

Bowed their heads to the ground is the way these young girls showed their sorrow and distress. In translation it may be necessary to depict these girls as bowing down on their knees so that they can place their foreheads to the ground. Otherwise they may appear like ostriches. For example, “young girls bow down and place their foreheads on the ground.”

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 .