Lamentations 1 אֵיכָה פרק א׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Lamentations 1 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   אֵיכָהe/KHAhowיָשְׁבָהya/she/VAsitsבָדָדva/DADaloneהָעִירha/IRthe cityרַבָּתִיrab/BA/tigreat ofעָםampeopleהָיְתָהha/ye/TAhas becomeכְּאַלְמָנָהke/al/ma/NAlike a widowרַבָּתִיrab/BA/tigreatבַגּוֹיִםvag/go/YIMamong the nationsשָׂרָתִיsa/RA/tia princessבַּמְּדִינוֹתbam/me/di/NOTamong the provincesהָיְתָהha/ye/TAhas becomeלָמַס׃la/MASforced labor

   How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

2. 2

   בָּכוֹba/KHOweepתִבְכֶּהtiv/KEshe weepsבַּלַּיְלָהbal/LAY/lain the nightוְדִמְעָתָהּve/dim/a/TAand her tearsעַלaluponלֶחֱיָהּle/che/YAher cheekאֵין־לָהּen-lashe has noneמְנַחֵםme/na/CHEMa comforterמִכׇּל־אֹהֲבֶיהָmik/KOL-o/ha/VE/haamong all her loversכׇּל־רֵעֶיהָkol-re/E/haall her friendsבָּגְדוּBAG/duhave dealt treacherouslyבָהּvawith herהָיוּha/YUhave becomeלָהּlato herלְאֹיְבִים׃le/oy/VIMenemies

   She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

3. 3

   גָּלְתָהga/le/TAhas gone into captivityיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahמֵעֹנִיme/O/nibecause of afflictionוּמֵרֹבu/me/ROVand because of greatעֲבֹדָהa/vo/DAservitudeהִיאhisheיָשְׁבָהya/she/VAdwellsבַגּוֹיִםvag/go/YIMamong the nationsלֹאlonotמָצְאָהma/tse/Afindsמָנוֹחַma/NO/achrestכׇּל־רֹדְפֶיהָkol-rod/FE/haall her pursuersהִשִּׂיגוּהָhis/si/GU/haovertook herבֵּיןbenbetweenהַמְּצָרִים׃ham/me/tsa/RIMthe straits

   Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

4. 4

   דַּרְכֵיdar/KHEthe ways ofצִיּוֹןTsiy/YONZionאֲבֵלוֹתa/ve/LOTmournמִבְּלִיmib/be/LIbecause noneבָּאֵיba/Ecome toמוֹעֵדmo/EDthe solemn feastכׇּל־שְׁעָרֶיהָkol-she/a/RE/haall her gatesשׁוֹמֵמִיןsho/me/MINare desolateכֹּהֲנֶיהָko/ha/NE/haher priestsנֶאֱנָחִיםne/e/na/CHIMsighבְּתוּלֹתֶיהָbe/tu/lo/TE/haher virginsנּוּגוֹתnu/GOTare afflictedוְהִיאve/HIand sheמַר־לָהּ׃mar-lais in bitterness

   The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

5. 5

   הָיוּha/YUhave becomeצָרֶיהָtsa/RE/haher adversariesלְרֹאשׁle/ROSHthe headאֹיְבֶיהָoy/VE/haher enemiesשָׁלוּsha/LUprosperכִּי־יְהֹוָהki-Adonaifor the LORDהוֹגָהּho/GAhas afflicted herעַלalforרֹב־פְּשָׁעֶיהָrov-pe/sha/E/hathe multitude of her transgressionsעוֹלָלֶיהָo/la/LE/haher childrenהָלְכוּha/le/KHUhave goneשְׁבִיshe/VIinto captivityלִפְנֵי־צָר׃lif/NE-tsarbefore the adversary

   Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

6. 6

   וַיֵּצֵאvay/ye/TSEand went out(מןmanבת)vat[מִבַּת־]צִיּוֹןmib/BAT-Tsiy/YONfrom the daughter of Zionכׇּל־הֲדָרָהּkol-ha/da/RAall her beautyהָיוּha/YUhave becomeשָׂרֶיהָsa/RE/haher princesכְּאַיָּלִיםke/ay/ya/LIMlike hartsלֹא־מָצְאוּlo-ma/tse/Uthat find noמִרְעֶהmir/Epastureוַיֵּלְכוּvay/yel/KHUand they are goneבְלֹא־כֹחַve/LO-KHO/achwithout strengthלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeרוֹדֵף׃ro/DEFthe pursuer

   And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7. 7

   זׇכְרָהzokh/RAremembersיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemיְמֵיye/MEthe days ofעׇנְיָהּon/YAher afflictionוּמְרוּדֶיהָu/me/ru/DE/haand her miseriesכֹּלkolallמַחֲמֻדֶיהָma/cha/mu/DE/haher precious thingsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatהָיוּha/YUwereמִימֵיMI/mefrom the days ofקֶדֶםKE/demoldבִּנְפֹלbin/FOLwhen fellעַמָּהּam/MAher peopleבְּיַד־צָרbe/YAD-tsarinto the hand of the adversaryוְאֵיןve/ENand there is noעוֹזֵרo/ZERa helperלָהּlato herרָאוּהָra/U/hasaw herצָרִיםtsa/RIMthe adversariesשָׂחֲקוּsa/cha/KUmockedעַלalatמִשְׁבַּתֶּהָ׃mish/bat/TE/haher sabbaths

   Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

8. 8

   חֵטְאchetsinחָטְאָהcha/te/Ashe has sinnedיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemעַל־כֵּןal-kenthereforeלְנִידָהle/ni/DAa wandererהָיָתָהha/YA/tashe has becomeכׇּל־מְכַבְּדֶיהָkol-me/khab/be/DE/haall who honored herהִזִּילוּהָhiz/zi/LU/hathey despise herכִּי־רָאוּki-ra/Ubecause they have seenעֶרְוָתָהּer/va/TAher nakednessגַּם־הִיאgam-hiyea sheנֶאֶנְחָהne/en/CHAsighsוַתָּשׇׁבvat/TA/shovand turnsאָחוֹר׃a/CHORbackward

   Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

9. 9

   טֻמְאָתָהּtum/a/TAher uncleannessבְּשׁוּלֶיהָbe/shu/LE/haon her skirtsלֹאlonotזׇכְרָהzokh/RAshe rememberedאַחֲרִיתָהּa/cha/ri/TAher endוַתֵּרֶדvat/TE/redand she came downפְּלָאִיםpe/la/IMwonderfullyאֵיןenthere is noמְנַחֵםme/na/CHEMa comforterלָהּlato herרְאֵהre/EbeholdיְהֹוָהAdonaiO LORDאֶת־עׇנְיִיet-on/YImy afflictionכִּיkiforהִגְדִּילhig/DILhas magnified himselfאוֹיֵב׃o/YEVthe enemy

   Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

10. 10

    יָדוֹya/DOhis handפָּרַשׂpa/RAShas spread outצָרtsarthe adversaryעַלaluponכׇּל־מַחֲמַדֶּיהָkol-ma/cha/mad/DE/haall her precious thingsכִּי־רָאֲתָהki-ra/a/TAfor she has seenגוֹיִםgo/YIMnationsבָּאוּBA/uenteredמִקְדָּשָׁהּmik/da/SHAher sanctuaryאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichצִוִּיתָהtsiv/VI/taYou commandedלֹא־יָבֹאוּlo-ya/VO/ushould not enterבַקָּהָלvak/ka/HALin the assemblyלָךְ׃lakhYour

    The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

11. 11

    כׇּל־עַמָּהּkol-am/MAall its peopleנֶאֱנָחִיםne/e/na/CHIMsighמְבַקְשִׁיםme/vak/SHIMseekלֶחֶםLE/chembreadנָתְנוּna/te/NUthey have given[מַחֲמַדֵּיהֶם]ma/cha/mad/de/HEMtheir precious thingsבְּאֹכֶלbe/O/khelfor foodלְהָשִׁיבle/ha/SHIVto restoreנָפֶשׁNA/feshthe soulרְאֵהre/EbeholdיְהֹוָהAdonaiO LORDוְהַבִּיטָהve/hab/BI/taand considerכִּיkiforהָיִיתִיha/YI/tiI have becomeזוֹלֵלָה׃zo/le/LAvile

    All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

12. 12

    לוֹאlois it nothingאֲלֵיכֶםa/le/KHEMto youכׇּל־עֹבְרֵיkol-OV/reall you that pass byדֶרֶךְDE/rekhthe wayהַבִּיטוּhab/BI/tubeholdוּרְאוּu/re/Uand seeאִם־יֵשׁim-yeshif there isמַכְאוֹבmakh/OVsorrowכְּמַכְאֹבִיke/makh/o/VIlike my sorrowאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichעוֹלַלo/LALis doneלִיlito meאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwherewithהוֹגָהho/GAhas afflictedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofחֲרוֹןcha/RONthe fierceness ofאַפּוֹ׃ap/POHis anger

    Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13. 13

    מִמָּרוֹםmim/ma/ROMfrom on highשָׁלַח־אֵשׁsha/LACH-eshHe has sent fireבְּעַצְמֹתַיbe/ats/mo/TAYin my bonesוַיִּרְדֶּנָּהvay/yir/DEN/naand it mastered themפָּרַשׂpa/RASHe has spreadרֶשֶׁתRE/sheta netלְרַגְלַיle/rag/LAYfor my feetהֱשִׁיבַנִיhe/shi/VA/niHe has turned meאָחוֹרa/CHORbackנְתָנַנִיne/ta/NA/niHe has made meשֹׁמֵמָהsho/me/MAdesolateכׇּל־הַיּוֹםkol-hay/YOMall the dayדָּוָה׃da/VAfaint

    From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14. 14

    נִשְׂקַדnis/KADis boundעֹלolthe yoke ofפְּשָׁעַיpe/sha/AYmy transgressionsבְּיָדוֹbe/ya/DOby His handיִשְׂתָּרְגוּyis/ta/re/GUthey are wreathedעָלוּa/LUhave come upעַל־צַוָּארִיal-tsav/va/RIupon my neckהִכְשִׁילhikh/SHILHe has made to stumbleכֹּחִיko/CHImy strengthנְתָנַנִיne/ta/NA/nihas delivered meאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordבִּידֵיbi/DEinto the hands ofלֹא־אוּכַלlo-u/KHALI am not ableקוּם׃kumto rise up

    The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

15. 15

    סִלָּהsil/LAhas trodden under footכׇל־אַבִּירַיkhol-ab/bi/RAYall my mighty menאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordבְּקִרְבִּיbe/kir/BIwithin meקָרָאka/RAhas calledעָלַיa/LAYagainst meמוֹעֵדmo/EDan assemblyלִשְׁבֹּרlish/BORto crushבַּחוּרָיba/chu/RAYmy young menגַּתgata winepressדָּרַךְda/RAKHhas troddenאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordלִבְתוּלַתliv/tu/LATfor the virgin ofבַּת־יְהוּדָה׃bat-Ye/hu/DAdaughter of Judah

    The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

16. 16

    עַל־אֵלֶּהal-EL/lefor theseאֲנִיa/NIIבוֹכִיָּהvo/khiy/YAweepעֵינִיe/NImy eyeעֵינִיe/NImy eyeיֹרְדָהYOR/daruns down withמַּיִםMA/yimwaterכִּי־רָחַקki-ra/CHAKfor is farמִמֶּנִּיmim/MEN/nifrom meמְנַחֵםme/na/CHEMa comforterמֵשִׁיבme/SHIVthat should relieveנַפְשִׁיnaf/SHImy soulהָיוּha/YUareבָנַיva/NAYmy childrenשׁוֹמֵמִיםsho/me/MIMdesolateכִּיkiforגָבַרga/VARhas prevailedאוֹיֵב׃o/YEVthe enemy

    For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

17. 17

    פֵּרְשָׂהper/SAspreads forthצִיּוֹןTsiy/YONZionבְּיָדֶיהָbe/ya/DE/hawith her handsאֵיןenthere is noמְנַחֵםme/na/CHEMa comforterלָהּlato herצִוָּהtsiv/VAhas commandedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלְיַעֲקֹבle/Ya/a/KOVconcerning Jacobסְבִיבָיוse/vi/VAYVthat those around himצָרָיוtsa/RAYVhis adversariesהָיְתָהha/ye/TAhas becomeיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemלְנִדָּהle/nid/DAan unclean thingבֵּינֵיהֶם׃be/ne/HEMamong them

    Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

18. 18

    צַדִּיקtsad/DIKis righteousהוּאhuheיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDכִּיkiforפִיהוּFI/huHis mouthמָרִיתִיma/RI/tiI have rebelledשִׁמְעוּ־נָאshim/U-nahear I prayכׇל־[הָעַמִּים]khol-ha/am/MIMall the peoples(עמים)mayamוּרְאוּu/re/Uand beholdמַכְאֹבִיmakh/o/VImy sorrowבְּתוּלֹתַיbe/tu/lo/TAYmy virginsוּבַחוּרַיu/va/chu/RAYand my young menהָלְכוּha/le/KHUhave goneבַשֶּׁבִי׃vash/SHE/viinto captivity

    The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19. 19

    קָרָאתִיka/RA/tiI calledלַמְאַהֲבַיlam/a/ha/VAYto my loversהֵמָּהHEM/matheyרִמּוּנִיrim/MU/nithey deceived meכֹּהֲנַיko/ha/NAYmy priestsוּזְקֵנַיu/ze/ke/NAYand my eldersבָּעִירba/IRin the cityגָּוָעוּga/VA/ugave up the ghostכִּי־בִקְשׁוּki-vik/SHUwhile they soughtאֹכֶלO/khelfoodלָמוֹLA/mofor themselvesוְיָשִׁיבוּve/ya/SHI/vuto restoreאֶת־נַפְשָׁם׃et-naf/SHAMtheir soul

    I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

20. 20

    רְאֵהre/EbeholdיְהֹוָהAdonaiO LORDכִּי־צַר־לִיki-tsar-lifor I am in distressמֵעַיme/AYmy bowelsחֳמַרְמָרוּcho/mar/MA/ruare troubledנֶהְפַּךְneh/PAKHis turnedלִבִּיlib/BImy heartבְּקִרְבִּיbe/kir/BIwithin meכִּיkiforמָרוֹma/ROrebelמָרִיתִיma/RI/tiI have rebelledמִחוּץmi/CHUTSabroadשִׁכְּלָה־חֶרֶבshik/ke/LA-CHE/revthe sword bereavesבַּבַּיִתbab/BA/yitat homeכַּמָּוֶת׃kam/MA/vetthere is as death

    Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

21. 21

    שָׁמְעוּsha/me/Uthey have heardכִּיkithatנֶאֱנָחָהne/e/na/CHAsighאָנִיA/niIאֵיןenthere is noמְנַחֵםme/na/CHEMa comforterלִיlifor meכׇּל־אֹיְבַיkol-oy/VAYall my enemiesשָׁמְעוּsha/me/Uthey have heardרָעָתִיra/a/TIof my troubleשָׂשׂוּSA/suthey are gladכִּיkithatאַתָּהat/TAYouעָשִׂיתָa/SI/tahave done itהֵבֵאתָhe/VE/taYou will bringיוֹם־קָרָאתָyom-ka/RA/tathe day You have proclaimedוְיִהְיוּve/yih/YUand they shall beכָמֹנִי׃kha/mo/NIlike me

    They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.

22. 22

    תָּבֹאta/VOlet comeכׇל־רָעָתָםkhol-ra/a/TAMall their wickednessלְפָנֶיךָle/fa/NE/khabefore Youוְעוֹלֵלve/o/LELand doלָמוֹLA/moto themכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasעוֹלַלְתָּo/LAL/taYou have doneלִיlito meעַלalforכׇּל־פְּשָׁעָיkol-pe/sha/AYall my transgressionsכִּי־רַבּוֹתki-rab/BOTfor many areאַנְחֹתַיan/cho/TAYmy sighsוְלִבִּיve/lib/BIand my heartדַוָּי׃dav/VAYis faint

    Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.