Lamentations 1 אֵיכָה פרק א׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Lamentations 1 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אֵיכָהhowיָשְׁבָהdweltבָדָדaloneהָעִירthe cityרַבָּתִיgreat ofעָםa peopleהָיְתָהwasכְּאַלְמָנָהlike a widowרַבָּתִיgreat ofבַגּוֹיִםamong the nationsשָׂרָתִיa princessבַּמְּדִינוֹתamong the provincesהָיְתָהwasלָמַס׃forced 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

   בָּכוֹsorelyתִבְכֶּהshe weptבַּלַּיְלָהin the nightוְדִמְעָתָהּand her tearsעַלuponלֶחֱיָהּher cheekאֵין־לָהּshe has noneמְנַחֵםa comforterמִכׇּל־אֹהֲבֶיהָfrom all those who love itכׇּל־רֵעֶיהָall her friendsבָּגְדוּthey have acted treacherouslyבָהּin itהָיוּwereלָהּto herלְאֹיְבִים׃enemies

   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

   גָּלְתָהshe has gone into exileיְהוּדָהJudahמֵעֹנִיfrom miseryוּמֵרֹבand because ofעֲבֹדָהlaborהִיאit isיָשְׁבָהdweltבַגּוֹיִםamong the nationsלֹאnotמָצְאָהfoundמָנוֹחַa resting placeכׇּל־רֹדְפֶיהָall her pursuersהִשִּׂיגוּהָthey have overtaken herבֵּיןamongהַמְּצָרִים׃the 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

   דַּרְכֵיthe ways ofצִיּוֹןZionאֲבֵלוֹתare mourningמִבְּלִיwithoutבָּאֵיthose who were enteringמוֹעֵדappointed timeכׇּל־שְׁעָרֶיהָall her gatesשׁוֹמֵמִיןare desolateכֹּהֲנֶיהָhaving their priestsנֶאֱנָחִיםare groaningבְּתוּלֹתֶיהָher virginsנּוּגוֹתare grievingוְהִיאand sheמַר־לָהּ׃bitter it

   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

   הָיוּwereצָרֶיהָher opponentsלְרֹאשׁthe head ofאֹיְבֶיהָher enemiesשָׁלוּprosperכִּי־יְהֹוָהfor the LORDהוֹגָהּhe has caused grief to herעַלuponרֹב־פְּשָׁעֶיהָmuch her transgressionsעוֹלָלֶיהָher childrenהָלְכוּwentשְׁבִיcaptiveלִפְנֵי־צָר׃before 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

   וַיֵּצֵאand went out(מןבת)[מִבַּת־]צִיּוֹןfrom the daughter of Zionכׇּל־הֲדָרָהּall her beautyהָיוּwereשָׂרֶיהָits princesכְּאַיָּלִיםlike deerלֹא־מָצְאוּnot foundמִרְעֶהpastureוַיֵּלְכוּand they wentבְלֹא־כֹחַby not power ofלִפְנֵיbeforeרוֹדֵף׃pursuing

   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

   זׇכְרָהrememberיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemיְמֵיthe days ofעׇנְיָהּher afflictionוּמְרוּדֶיהָand her homelessnessכֹּלallמַחֲמֻדֶיהָher precious thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichהָיוּwereמִימֵיfrom the days ofקֶדֶםoldבִּנְפֹלin fellעַמָּהּits peopleבְּיַד־צָרin the hand of adversaryוְאֵיןand there is noעוֹזֵרa helperלָהּto herרָאוּהָthey saw herצָרִיםthe adversariesשָׂחֲקוּthey have laughedעַלuponמִשְׁבַּתֶּהָ׃her 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

   חֵטְאsinחָטְאָהshe has sinnedיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemעַל־כֵּןthereforeלְנִידָהimpurityהָיָתָהshe has becomeכׇּל־מְכַבְּדֶיהָall her those who honoredהִזִּילוּהָthey despise herכִּי־רָאוּbecause sawעֶרְוָתָהּher nakednessגַּם־הִיאalso it isנֶאֶנְחָהhas groanedוַתָּשׇׁבand she returnedאָחוֹר׃back

   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

   טֻמְאָתָהּher uncleannessבְּשׁוּלֶיהָon her skirtsלֹאnotזׇכְרָהrememberאַחֲרִיתָהּits outcomeוַתֵּרֶדand descendedפְּלָאִיםwonderfullyאֵיןthere is noמְנַחֵםa comforterלָהּto herרְאֵהbeholdיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֶת־עׇנְיִיmy afflictionכִּיforהִגְדִּילhe did great thingsאוֹיֵב׃is an 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

    יָדוֹhis handפָּרַשׂstretches forthצָרadversaryעַלuponכׇּל־מַחֲמַדֶּיהָall its preciousnessכִּי־רָאֲתָהbecause she sawגוֹיִםnationsבָּאוּcameמִקְדָּשָׁהּits sanctuaryאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוִּיתָהyou have commandedלֹא־יָבֹאוּnot comeבַקָּהָלin the assemblyלָךְ׃to you

    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־עַמָּהּall its peopleנֶאֱנָחִיםare groaningמְבַקְשִׁיםseekלֶחֶםbreadנָתְנוּthey gave[מַחֲמַדֵּיהֶם]precious things theirבְּאֹכֶלfor foodלְהָשִׁיבto bring backנָפֶשׁsoulsרְאֵהbeholdיְהֹוָהthe LORDוְהַבִּיטָהand considerכִּיforהָיִיתִיI wasזוֹלֵלָה׃despised

    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

    לוֹאnotאֲלֵיכֶםunto youכׇּל־עֹבְרֵיall those who pass by ofדֶרֶךְthe wayהַבִּיטוּbehold youוּרְאוּand seeאִם־יֵשׁif there isמַכְאוֹבsorrowכְּמַכְאֹבִיlike my painאֲשֶׁרwhichעוֹלַלit has been doneלִיto meאֲשֶׁרwhichהוֹגָהhas caused griefיְהֹוָהthe LORDבְּיוֹםin the day ofחֲרוֹןfierceאַפּוֹ׃His wrath

    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

    מִמָּרוֹםfrom a high placeשָׁלַח־אֵשׁsent fireבְּעַצְמֹתַיin my bonesוַיִּרְדֶּנָּהand he mastered itפָּרַשׂstretches forthרֶשֶׁתa net ofלְרַגְלַיfor my feetהֱשִׁיבַנִיhe has brought back meאָחוֹרbackנְתָנַנִיhe made meשֹׁמֵמָהdesolateכׇּל־הַיּוֹםall the dayדָּוָה׃menstruating

    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

    נִשְׂקַדit has been bound onעֹלyokeפְּשָׁעַיmy transgressionsבְּיָדוֹin his handיִשְׂתָּרְגוּthey are woven togetherעָלוּthey ascendedעַל־צַוָּארִיupon my neckהִכְשִׁילhe has made feebleכֹּחִיmy strengthנְתָנַנִיhe made meאֲדֹנָיthe Lordבִּידֵיby the hands ofלֹא־אוּכַלnot I couldקוּם׃arise

    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

    סִלָּהhe has thrown awayכׇל־אַבִּירַיall my mighty onesאֲדֹנָיthe Lordבְּקִרְבִּיwithin meקָרָאcalledעָלַיupon meמוֹעֵדappointed timeלִשְׁבֹּרto crushבַּחוּרָיmy young menגַּתa winepressדָּרַךְhas troddenאֲדֹנָיthe Lordלִבְתוּלַתfor the virgin ofבַּת־יְהוּדָה׃daughter 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־אֵלֶּהupon theseאֲנִיIבוֹכִיָּהam weepingעֵינִיmy eyeעֵינִיmy eyeיֹרְדָהis going downמַּיִםwaterכִּי־רָחַקbecause it is farמִמֶּנִּיfrom meמְנַחֵםa comforterמֵשִׁיבreturningנַפְשִׁיmy lifeהָיוּwereבָנַיmy sonsשׁוֹמֵמִיםdesolateכִּיbecauseגָבַרhe prevailedאוֹיֵב׃is an 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

    פֵּרְשָׂהit has spread outצִיּוֹןZionבְּיָדֶיהָwith her handsאֵיןthere is noמְנַחֵםa comforterלָהּto herצִוָּהcommandedיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְיַעֲקֹבto Jacobסְבִיבָיוthose around himצָרָיוits opponentsהָיְתָהwasיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemלְנִדָּהan impure thingבֵּינֵיהֶם׃between 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

    צַדִּיקrighteousהוּאheיְהֹוָהthe LORDכִּיforפִיהוּHis mouthמָרִיתִיwas I rebelliousשִׁמְעוּ־נָאhear you nowכׇל־[הָעַמִּים]all the peoples(עמים)וּרְאוּand seeמַכְאֹבִיmy painבְּתוּלֹתַיmy young womenוּבַחוּרַיand my young menהָלְכוּwentבַשֶּׁבִי׃into the bondage

    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

    קָרָאתִיcalledלַמְאַהֲבַיto my loversהֵמָּהtheyרִמּוּנִיthey deceived meכֹּהֲנַיmy priestsוּזְקֵנַיand my eldersבָּעִירin the cityגָּוָעוּthey perishedכִּי־בִקְשׁוּbecause they soughtאֹכֶלfoodלָמוֹfor themוְיָשִׁיבוּand they may bring backאֶת־נַפְשָׁם׃their souls

    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

    רְאֵהbeholdיְהֹוָהthe LORDכִּי־צַר־לִיbecause adversary to meמֵעַיmy bowelsחֳמַרְמָרוּthey are in turmoilנֶהְפַּךְit was changedלִבִּיmy heartבְּקִרְבִּיwithin meכִּיbecauseמָרוֹextremelyמָרִיתִיwas I rebelliousמִחוּץwithoutשִׁכְּלָה־חֶרֶבit has made childless the sword ofבַּבַּיִתin the houseכַּמָּוֶת׃like the 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

    שָׁמְעוּthey heardכִּיbecauseנֶאֱנָחָהwas groaningאָנִיIאֵיןthere is noמְנַחֵםa comforterלִיto meכׇּל־אֹיְבַיall my enemiesשָׁמְעוּthey heardרָעָתִיmy harmשָׂשׂוּthey rejoicedכִּיbecauseאַתָּהyouעָשִׂיתָyou didהֵבֵאתָyou broughtיוֹם־קָרָאתָthe day you have calledוְיִהְיוּand they wereכָמֹנִי׃is like 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

    תָּבֹאcomesכׇל־רָעָתָםall their wickednessלְפָנֶיךָbefore youוְעוֹלֵלand deal severelyלָמוֹfor themכַּאֲשֶׁרasעוֹלַלְתָּyou have dealt severelyלִיto meעַלuponכׇּל־פְּשָׁעָיall my transgressionsכִּי־רַבּוֹתbecause manyאַנְחֹתַיmy groaningוְלִבִּיand my heartדַוָּי׃is 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.