Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears - making tears their bread ().

And givest them tears to drink in great measure - rather, as the parallelism requires 'thou makest them to drink out of a measure (i:e., containing) tears' The "measure" was one for measuring liquids, the third (as the Hebrew means) of a larger measure. A sad contrast to the ordinary treatment which the "Shepherd of Israel" gives to His flock (), "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ... my cup runneth over." Now, tears are Israel's both meat and drink.

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