We pay to drink our own water. Since we were afraid to draw water from the river because of the enemies, we bought [water] from them with money.¹

footnotes: ¹ Alternatively, ‘we are accustomed to drink from silver cups, and now we even have to pay to drink from wooden cups. (Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez)

We are hounded around our necks. Because of the yoke of hard labor.

We exhaust ourselves. To gather money and property.

But nothing remains for us. [Of] our toil in our hands, because the enemies would collect and seize everything for taxes, head taxes, and property taxes.²

footnotes: ² Alternatively, ‘and we were given no rest [ולא הונח לנו].’

Toward Egypt we extended a hand [for assistance]. It is customary for a person who is falling and wishes to stand up to stretch out a hand to someone nearby to help him. Here too, we stretched out a hand to Egypt that they should help us.³

footnotes: ³ Alternatively, Egypt gave us their hand[shake], i.e., an expression of making an oath, that they would assist us. (Ibn Ezra)

[Toward] Ashur. That they sate us with their bread.

We extended [a hand]. נָתַנּוּ is] the same as נָתַנְנוּ. The dagesh in the nun takes the place of the second nun, as in, “for all is from You, and from Your hand we have given נָתַנּוּ it to You,”⁴ and as in, “and we will give וְנָתַנּוּ our daughters to you.”⁵

footnotes: ⁴ I Divrei Hayomim 29:14. ⁵ Bereishis 34:16.

We gain our bread at the risk of our lives. With our life in jeopardy. We were in danger when we would bring our food from the field because of the sword of the wilderness.

Inflamed. Became heated, as in, “for his mercies were aroused נִכְמְרוּ”;⁶ and in the language of the Gemara there are many instances, “a heating vessel כּוֹמֶר of grapes”;⁷ “the heating מִכְמָר of the flesh.”⁸

footnotes: ⁶ Ibid. 43:30. ⁷ Maseches Yevamos 97a. ⁸ Maseches Pesachim 58a.

Burning hunger. As in, “and a burning זִלְעָפוֹת wind,”⁹ an expression of burning.

footnotes: ⁹ Tehilim 11:6.

Encumbered with millstones. When the enemies led them away in neck irons, they would place on their shoulders millstones and burdens in order to tire them.¹⁰ And similarly, “[and boys] staggered with beams,” [meaning that] their strength failed. The expression of staggering כִּשְׁלוֹן applies to the weakening of strength, as is stated in Ezra, “And Yehudah said, ‘the strength of the bearer has failed,’”¹¹ and similarly, “He has caused my strength to fail.”¹²

footnotes: ¹⁰ Alternatively, ‘youths were forced to grind wheat,’ a task which drains their strength. (Ibn Ezra) ¹¹ Nechemyah 4:4. ¹² Eichah 1:14.

For this our hearts ached, etc. Because of that which is delineated in the verse following, “Over Mount Tzion, which was devastated [and] foxes meandered over it.”¹³

footnotes: ¹³ Below, verse 18. Our hearts ache only for the destruction of Mount Tzion, and nothing else. (Palgei Mayim)

Adonoy, You. We know that You will remain forever. And because that is so...

Why [then O Eternal] do You forget us. Have You not sworn to us Yourself that just as You exist, so does Your oath exist?

For although You may have considered us contemptible. Although we have sinned, [nonetheless] You should not have been angered as much as You have been.

Adonoy return us. Because he concludes with words of reproof, he had to repeat the preceding verse again,¹⁴ and so did Yeshayahu, Trei Osor, and Koheles.

footnotes: ¹⁴ In order to end on a note of consolation.