The fact that the writer was fasting indicates that he was sad about the way people treated God's temple. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
Wearing rough, cheap clothing was a symbol of mourning over sin. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
# I became the object of a proverb
The writer speak of himself as if he was the sad or foolish person in a proverb. AT: "I became the example of a sad person spoken of in their proverbs" or "they laugh at me" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# Those who sit in the city gate
Here "city gate" is associated with leadership of a town. AT: "The important people of the city" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
The writer speaks of himself as if he was the person about whom the drunkards sing mocking songs. AT: "the drunkards of the city sing disgusting songs about me" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])