en_tn/jer/20/16.md

# that man

This refers to the man who informed Jeremiah's father of Jeremiah's birth.

# the cities that Yahweh overthrew

This refers to Sodom and Gomorrah.

# he did not have compassion

Here the word "he" refers to Yahweh.

# Let him hear a cry for help

Here the word "him" refers to "that man."

# making my mother to be my tomb

Jeremiah speaks of his dying while his mother was still pregnant with him as if his mother's womb were his tomb. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# a womb that was pregnant forever

Jeremiah speaks of his pregnant mother never giving birth to the baby in her womb as if she had been pregnant forever. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# Why is it that I came out from the womb to see troubles and agony ... shame?

Jeremiah uses this rhetorical question to complain that there was no good reason for him to be born. It can be translated as a statement. AT: "There was no reason for me to be born only to see troubles and agony ... shame." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# to see troubles and agony

The words "troubles" and "agony" mean basically the same thing and emphasize the amount and severity of suffering. AT: "to experience so much suffering" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])

# my days are filled with shame

Here the word "days" represents all the days of Jeremiah's life. AT: "my life is filled with shame" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/call]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/womb]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/tomb]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/eternity]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/trouble]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/shame]]