unfoldingWord_en_tn/lam/02/01.md

A new poem begins. The writer of Lamentations uses many different ways to express that the people of Israel have lost God's favor. (See:  en:ta:workbench:translate:poetry and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]] ​and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## dark cloud ##

Possible meanings are 1) God is threatening to harm the people of Jerusalem or 2) God has already harmed the people (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]).

## daughter of Zion...daughter of Judah ##

These are poetic names for Jerusalem, which is spoken of here as if it were a woman. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])

## He has cast down the beauty of Israel from heaven to the earth ##

"Jerusalem has lost all favor with the Lord" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]).

## ignored his footstool ##

Possible meanings are 1) "not considered his covenant" or 2) "has removed his presence." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

## day of his anger ##

a general period of time, not one 24-hour day AT: "at the time when he displayed his anger" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

## swallowed up ##

"completely destroyed" like an animal leaves nothing when he swallows food (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## the fortified cities of the daughter of Judah ##

Possible meanings are 1) the fortified cities throughout Judah, or 2) the fortified walls of Jerusalem.