Lamentations 2 אֵיכָה פרק ב׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Lamentations 2 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   אֵיכָהe/KHAhowיָעִיבya/IVhas covered with a cloudבְּאַפּוֹbe/ap/POin His angerאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordאֶת־בַּת־צִיּוֹןet-Bat-tsiy/YONthe daughter of Zionהִשְׁלִיךְhish/LIKHHe has cast downמִשָּׁמַיִםmish/sha/MA/yimfrom heavenאֶרֶץE/retsto the earthתִּפְאֶרֶתtif/E/retthe beauty ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelוְלֹא־זָכַרve/LO-za/KHARand has not rememberedהֲדֹם־רַגְלָיוha/DOM-rag/LAYVthe footstool of His feetבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofאַפּוֹ׃ap/POHis anger

   How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!

2. 2

   בִּלַּעbil/LAhas swallowed upאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lord(לא)l[וְלֹא]ve/LOand notחָמַלcha/MALhas sparedאֵת־כׇּל־נְאוֹתet-kol-ne/OTall the habitations ofיַעֲקֹבYa/a/KOVJacobהָרַסha/RASHe has thrown downבְּעֶבְרָתוֹbe/ev/ra/TOin His wrathמִבְצְרֵיmiv/tse/REthe strongholds ofבַת־יְהוּדָהvat-Ye/hu/DAthe daughter of Judahהִגִּיעַhig/GI/aHe has brought downלָאָרֶץla/A/retsto the groundחִלֵּלchil/LELHe has pollutedמַמְלָכָהmam/la/KHAthe kingdomוְשָׂרֶיהָ׃ve/sa/RE/haand her princes

   The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.

3. 3

   גָּדַעga/DAHe has cut offבׇּחֳרִי־אַףbo/cho/RI-afin fierce angerכֹּלkolallקֶרֶןKE/renthe horn ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelהֵשִׁיבhe/SHIVHe has drawnאָחוֹרa/CHORbackיְמִינוֹye/mi/NOHis right handמִפְּנֵיmip/pe/NEfrom beforeאוֹיֵבo/YEVthe enemyוַיִּבְעַרvay/yiv/ARand He burnedבְּיַעֲקֹבbe/Ya/a/KOVagainst Jacobכְּאֵשׁke/ESHlike fireלֶהָבָהle/ha/VAof flameאָכְלָהa/khe/LAwhich devoursסָבִיב׃sa/VIVall around

   He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.

4. 4

   דָּרַךְda/RAKHHe has bentקַשְׁתּוֹkash/TOHis bowכְּאוֹיֵבke/o/YEVas an enemyנִצָּבnits/TSAVHe stoodיְמִינוֹye/mi/NOwith His right handכְּצָרke/TSARas an adversaryוַיַּהֲרֹגvay/ya/ha/ROGand slewכֹּלkolallמַחֲמַדֵּי־עָיִןma/cha/mad/DE-A/yinthe delights of the eyeבְּאֹהֶלbe/O/helin the tent ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןbat-Tsiy/YONthe daughter of Zionשָׁפַךְsha/FAKHHe poured outכָּאֵשׁka/ESHlike fireחֲמָתוֹ׃cha/ma/TOHis fury

   He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.

5. 5

   הָיָהha/YAwasאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordכְּאוֹיֵבke/o/YEVas an enemyבִּלַּעbil/LAHe has swallowed upיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelבִּלַּעbil/LAHe has swallowed upכׇּל־אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָkol-ar/me/no/TE/haall her palacesשִׁחֵתshi/CHETHe has destroyedמִבְצָרָיוmiv/tsa/RAYVhis strongholdsוַיֶּרֶבvay/YE/revand He has increasedבְּבַת־יְהוּדָהbe/VAT-ye/hu/DAin the daughter of Judahתַּאֲנִיָּהta/a/niy/YAmourningוַאֲנִיָּה׃va/a/niy/YAand lamentation

   The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.

6. 6

   וַיַּחְמֹסvay/yach/MOSand He has done violence toכַּגַּןkag/GANlike the gardenשֻׂכּוֹsuk/KOHis tabernacleשִׁחֵתshi/CHETHe has destroyedמֹעֲדוֹmo/a/DOHis place of assemblyשִׁכַּחshik/KACHhas caused to be forgottenיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבְּצִיּוֹןbe/Tsiy/YONin Zionמוֹעֵדmo/EDsolemn feastוְשַׁבָּתve/shab/BATand sabbathוַיִּנְאַץvay/yin/ATSand has despisedבְּזַעַם־אַפּוֹbe/ZA/am-ap/POin the indignation of His angerמֶלֶךְME/lekhkingוְכֹהֵן׃ve/kho/HENand priest

   And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.

7. 7

   זָנַחza/NACHhas cast offאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordמִזְבְּחוֹmiz/be/CHOHis altarנִאֵרni/ERHe has abhorredמִקְדָּשׁוֹmik/da/SHOHis sanctuaryהִסְגִּירhis/GIRHe has given upבְּיַד־אוֹיֵבbe/YAD-o/YEVinto the hand of the enemyחוֹמֹתcho/MOTthe walls ofאַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָar/me/no/TE/haher palacesקוֹלkola noiseנָתְנוּna/te/NUthey have madeבְּבֵית־יְהֹוָהbe/VET-Adonaiin the house of the LORDכְּיוֹםke/YOMas the day ofמוֹעֵד׃mo/EDa solemn feast

   The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.

8. 8

   חָשַׁבcha/SHAVhas purposedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלְהַשְׁחִיתle/hash/CHITto destroyחוֹמַתcho/MATthe wall ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןbat-Tsiy/YONthe daughter of Zionנָטָהna/TAHe has stretched outקָוkava lineלֹא־הֵשִׁיבlo-he/SHIVHe has not withdrawnיָדוֹya/DOHis handמִבַּלֵּעַmib/bal/LE/afrom swallowing upוַיַּאֲבֶל־חֵלvay/ya/a/VEL-cheland He made the rampart mournוְחוֹמָהve/cho/MAand the wallיַחְדָּוyach/DAVtogetherאֻמְלָלוּ׃um/LA/luthey languished

   The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.

9. 9

   טָבְעוּta/ve/Uare sunkבָאָרֶץva/A/retsinto the groundשְׁעָרֶיהָshe/a/RE/haher gatesאִבַּדib/BADHe has destroyedוְשִׁבַּרve/shib/BARand brokenבְּרִיחֶיהָbe/ri/CHE/haher barsמַלְכָּהּmal/KAher kingוְשָׂרֶיהָve/sa/RE/haand her princesבַגּוֹיִםvag/go/YIMamong the nationsאֵיןenthere is noתּוֹרָהto/RAthe lawגַּם־נְבִיאֶיהָgam-ne/vi/E/haalso her prophetsלֹא־מָצְאוּlo-ma/tse/Ufind noחָזוֹןcha/ZONvisionמֵיְהֹוָה׃me-Adonaifrom the LORD

   Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.

10. 10

    יֵשְׁבוּyesh/VUsitלָאָרֶץla/A/retsupon the groundיִדְּמוּyid/de/MUand keep silenceזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofבַת־צִיּוֹןvat-Tsiy/YONthe daughter of Zionהֶעֱלוּhe/e/LUthey have cast upעָפָרa/FARdustעַל־רֹאשָׁםal-ro/SHAMupon their headsחָגְרוּCHAG/ruthey have girded themselves withשַׂקִּיםsak/KIMsackclothהוֹרִידוּho/RI/duhang downלָאָרֶץla/A/retsupon the groundרֹאשָׁןro/SHANtheir headsבְּתוּלֹתbe/tu/LOTthe virgins ofיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Ye/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalem

    The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.

11. 11

    כָּלוּka/LUfailבַדְּמָעוֹתvad/de/ma/OTwith tearsעֵינַיe/NAYmy eyesחֳמַרְמְרוּcho/mar/me/RUare troubledמֵעַיme/AYmy bowelsנִשְׁפַּךְnish/PAKHis pouredלָאָרֶץla/A/retsupon the earthכְּבֵדִיke/ve/DImy liverעַל־שֶׁבֶרal-SHE/verfor the destruction ofבַּת־עַמִּיbat-am/MIthe daughter of my peopleבֵּעָטֵףbe/a/TEFbecause swoonעוֹלֵלo/LELthe childrenוְיוֹנֵקve/yo/NEKand the sucklingsבִּרְחֹבוֹתbir/cho/VOTin the open places ofקִרְיָה׃kir/YAthe city

    Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

12. 12

    לְאִמֹּתָםle/im/mo/TAMto their mothersיֹאמְרוּyo/me/RUthey sayאַיֵּהay/YEwhere isדָּגָןda/GANgrainוָיָיִןva/YA/yinand wineבְּהִתְעַטְּפָםbe/hit/at/te/FAMwhen they swoonedכֶּחָלָלke/cha/LALas the woundedבִּרְחֹבוֹתbir/cho/VOTin the open places ofעִירirthe cityבְּהִשְׁתַּפֵּךְbe/hish/tap/PEKHwhen was poured outנַפְשָׁםnaf/SHAMtheir soulאֶל־חֵיקel-chekinto the bosom ofאִמֹּתָם׃im/mo/TAMtheir mothers

    They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.

13. 13

    מָה־אֲעִידֵךְma-a/i/DEKHwhat shall I testify to youמָהmawhatאֲדַמֶּה־לָּךְa/dam/ME-lakhshall I liken to youהַבַּתhab/BATO daughter ofיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemמָהmawhatאַשְׁוֶה־לָּךְash/VE-lakhshall I equal to youוַאֲנַחֲמֵךְva/a/na/cha/MEKHthat I may comfort youבְּתוּלַתbe/tu/LATO virginבַּת־צִיּוֹןbat-Tsiy/YONthe daughter of Zionכִּי־גָדוֹלki-ga/DOLfor great isכַּיָּםkay/YAMlike the seaשִׁבְרֵךְshiv/REKHyour breachמִיmiwhoיִרְפָּא־לָךְ׃yir/PA-lakhcan heal you

    What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

14. 14

    נְבִיאַיִךְne/vi/A/yikhyour prophetsחָזוּCHA/zuhave seenלָךְlakhfor youשָׁוְאshavfalsehoodוְתָפֵלve/ta/FELand foolish thingsוְלֹא־גִלּוּve/LO-gil/LUand they have not uncoveredעַל־עֲוֺנֵךְal-a/vo/NEKHupon your iniquityלְהָשִׁיבle/ha/SHIVto turn back[שְׁבוּתֵךְ]she/vu/TEKHyour captivityוַיֶּחֱזוּvay/YE/che/zubut have seenלָךְlakhfor youמַשְׂאוֹתmas/OTburdens ofשָׁוְאshavfalsehoodוּמַדּוּחִים׃u/mad/du/CHIMand causes of banishment

    Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

15. 15

    סָפְקוּsa/fe/KUclapעָלַיִךְa/LA/yikhat youכַּפַּיִםkap/PA/yimtheir handsכׇּל־עֹבְרֵיkol-OV/reall that pass byדֶרֶךְDE/rekhthe wayשָׁרְקוּsha/re/KUthey hissוַיָּנִעוּvay/ya/NI/uand wagרֹאשָׁםro/SHAMtheir headעַל־בַּתal-batat the daughter ofיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemהֲזֹאתha/ZOTis thisהָעִירha/IRthe cityשֶׁיֹּאמְרוּshey/yo/me/RUthat men callכְּלִילַתke/LI/latthe perfection ofיֹפִיYO/fibeautyמָשׂוֹשׂma/SOSthe joyלְכׇל־הָאָרֶץ׃le/KHOL-ha/A/retsof the whole earth

    All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

16. 16

    פָּצוּpa/TSUhave openedעָלַיִךְa/LA/yikhagainst youפִּיהֶםpi/HEMtheir mouthכׇּל־אֹיְבַיִךְkol-oy/VA/yikhall your enemiesשָׁרְקוּsha/re/KUthey hissוַיַּחַרְקוּ־שֵׁןvay/ya/char/KU-shenand gnash the teethאָמְרוּa/me/RUthey sayבִּלָּעְנוּbil/LA/nuwe have swallowed upאַךְakhcertainlyזֶהzethis isהַיּוֹםhay/YOMthe dayשֶׁקִּוִּינֻהוּshek/kiv/vi/NU/huthat we looked forמָצָאנוּma/TSA/nuwe have foundרָאִינוּ׃ra/I/nuwe have seen

    All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

17. 17

    עָשָׂהa/SAhas doneיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat whichזָמָםza/MAMHe devisedבִּצַּעbits/TSAHe has fulfilledאֶמְרָתוֹem/ra/TOHis wordאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichצִוָּהtsiv/VAHe commandedמִימֵי־קֶדֶםMI/me-KE/demfrom the days of oldהָרַסha/RASHe has thrown downוְלֹאve/LOand notחָמָלcha/MALhas pitiedוַיְשַׂמַּחvay/sam/MACHand He has caused to rejoiceעָלַיִךְa/LA/yikhover youאוֹיֵבo/YEVthe enemyהֵרִיםhe/RIMHe has set upקֶרֶןKE/renthe horn ofצָרָיִךְ׃tsa/RA/yikhyour adversaries

    The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

18. 18

    צָעַקtsa/AKcriedלִבָּםlib/BAMtheir heartאֶל־אֲדֹנָיel-a/do/NAYto the Lordחוֹמַתcho/MATO wall ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןbat-Tsiy/YONthe daughter of Zionהוֹרִידִיho/RI/dilet run downכַנַּחַלkhan/NA/challike a torrentדִּמְעָהdim/Atearsיוֹמָםyo/MAMby dayוָלַיְלָהva/LAY/laand nightאַל־תִּתְּנִיal-tit/te/NIgive notפוּגַתfu/GATrestלָךְlakhyourselfאַל־תִּדֹּםal-tid/DOMlet not ceaseבַּת־עֵינֵךְ׃bat-e/NEKHdaughter of your eye

    Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.

19. 19

    קוּמִיKU/miariseרֹנִּיRON/nicry out(בליל)valayal[בַלַּיְלָה]val/LAY/lain the nightלְרֹאשׁle/ROSHat the beginning ofאַשְׁמֻרוֹתash/mu/ROTthe night watchesשִׁפְכִיshif/KHIpour outכַמַּיִםkham/MA/yimlike waterלִבֵּךְlib/BEKHyour heartנֹכַחNO/khachbeforeפְּנֵיpe/NEthe face ofאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordשְׂאִיse/Ilift upאֵלָיוe/LAYVto Himכַּפַּיִךְkap/PA/yikhyour handsעַל־נֶפֶשׁal-NE/feshfor the life ofעוֹלָלַיִךְo/la/LA/yikhyour childrenהָעֲטוּפִיםha/a/tu/FIMthat faintבְּרָעָבbe/ra/AVfor hungerבְּרֹאשׁbe/ROSHat the head ofכׇּל־חוּצוֹת׃kol-chu/TSOTall the streets

    Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

20. 20

    רְאֵהre/EbeholdיְהֹוָהAdonaiO LORDוְהַבִּיטָהve/hab/BI/taand considerלְמִיle/MIto whomעוֹלַלְתָּo/LAL/taYou have doneכֹּהkothusאִם־תֹּאכַלְנָהim-to/KHAL/nashall eatנָשִׁיםna/SHIMthe womenפִּרְיָםpir/YAMtheir fruitעֹלְלֵיol/LEchildren ofטִפֻּחִיםtip/pu/CHIMof their tendingאִם־יֵהָרֵגim-ye/ha/REGshall be slainבְּמִקְדַּשׁbe/mik/DASHin the sanctuary ofאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYthe Lordכֹּהֵןko/HENpriestוְנָבִיא׃ve/na/VIand prophet

    Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

21. 21

    שָׁכְבוּsha/khe/VUlieלָאָרֶץla/A/retson the groundחוּצוֹתchu/TSOTin the streetsנַעַרNA/arthe youngוְזָקֵןve/za/KENand the oldבְּתוּלֹתַיbe/tu/lo/TAYmy virginsוּבַחוּרַיu/va/chu/RAYand my young menנָפְלוּna/fe/LUhave fallenבֶחָרֶבve/CHA/revby the swordהָרַגְתָּha/RAG/taYou have slainבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofאַפֶּךָap/PE/khaYour angerטָבַחְתָּta/VACH/taYou have slaughteredלֹאlonotחָמָלְתָּ׃cha/MAL/taYou have pitied

    The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.

22. 22

    תִּקְרָאtik/RAYou have calledכְיוֹםkhe/YOMas in the day ofמוֹעֵדmo/EDa solemn feastמְגוּרַיme/gu/RAYmy terrorsמִסָּבִיבmis/sa/VIVall aroundוְלֹאve/LOand notהָיָהha/YAwasבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofאַף־יְהֹוָהaf-Adonaithe anger of the LORDפָּלִיטpa/LITany that escapedוְשָׂרִידve/sa/RIDor remainedאֲשֶׁר־טִפַּחְתִּיa/SHER-tip/PACH/tithose that I have swaddledוְרִבִּיתִיve/rib/BI/tiand brought upאֹיְבִיoy/VImy enemyכִלָּם׃khil/LAMhas consumed them

    Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD's anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.