Lamentations 2 אֵיכָה פרק ב׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Lamentations 2 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אֵיכָהhowיָעִיבhe covers with a cloudבְּאַפּוֹin His angerאֲדֹנָיthe Lordאֶת־בַּת־צִיּוֹןdaughter of Zionהִשְׁלִיךְcastמִשָּׁמַיִםfrom heavenאֶרֶץthe land ofתִּפְאֶרֶתthe beauty ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוְלֹא־זָכַרand not rememberedהֲדֹם־רַגְלָיוfootstool of His feetבְּיוֹםin the day ofאַפּוֹ׃His wrath

   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

   בִּלַּעhe will swallow upאֲדֹנָיthe Lord(לא)[וְלֹא]and notחָמַלHe did spareאֵת־כׇּל־נְאוֹתall the habitations ofיַעֲקֹבJacobהָרַסhe has torn downבְּעֶבְרָתוֹin his wrathמִבְצְרֵיfortresses ofבַת־יְהוּדָהthe daughter of Judahהִגִּיעַcome hasלָאָרֶץto the groundחִלֵּלhe has profanedמַמְלָכָהkingdomוְשָׂרֶיהָ׃and its 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

   גָּדַעhe has cut offבׇּחֳרִי־אַףin the fierce anger ofכֹּלallקֶרֶןthe horn ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelהֵשִׁיבhe restoredאָחוֹרbackיְמִינוֹhis right handמִפְּנֵיbecause ofאוֹיֵבis an enemyוַיִּבְעַרand he has burnedבְּיַעֲקֹבunto Jacobכְּאֵשׁlike a fireלֶהָבָהa flameאָכְלָהit consumedסָבִיב׃all 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

   דָּרַךְhe has bentקַשְׁתּוֹhis bowכְּאוֹיֵבas an enemyנִצָּבstands upיְמִינוֹhis right handכְּצָרlike an opponentוַיַּהֲרֹגand he murderedכֹּלallמַחֲמַדֵּי־עָיִןthe delights of the eyeבְּאֹהֶלin the tent ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןthe daughter of Zionשָׁפַךְpoured outכָּאֵשׁlike fireחֲמָתוֹ׃His 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

   הָיָהwasאֲדֹנָיthe Lordכְּאוֹיֵבas an enemyבִּלַּעwill swallow upיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelבִּלַּעhe will swallow upכׇּל־אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָall its palacesשִׁחֵתit has behaved corruptlyמִבְצָרָיוhis strongholdsוַיֶּרֶבand it increasedבְּבַת־יְהוּדָהin the daughter of Judahתַּאֲנִיָּהmourningוַאֲנִיָּה׃and 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

   וַיַּחְמֹסand he has treated violentlyכַּגַּןlike the gardenשֻׂכּוֹhis boothשִׁחֵתit has behaved corruptlyמֹעֲדוֹhis place of assemblyשִׁכַּחhas caused to be forgottenיְהֹוָהthe LORDבְּצִיּוֹןin Zionמוֹעֵדappointed timeוְשַׁבָּתand sabbathוַיִּנְאַץand he has spurnedבְּזַעַם־אַפּוֹin the indignation of His wrathמֶלֶךְthe king ofוְכֹהֵן׃and a 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

   זָנַחhe has rejectedאֲדֹנָיthe Lordמִזְבְּחוֹhis altarנִאֵרhe has repudiatedמִקְדָּשׁוֹhis sanctuaryהִסְגִּירwhich he has shut upבְּיַד־אוֹיֵבin the hand of is an enemyחוֹמֹתthe walls ofאַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָits palacesקוֹלthe voice ofנָתְנוּthey gaveבְּבֵית־יְהֹוָהin the house of the LORDכְּיוֹםas the day ofמוֹעֵד׃appointed time

   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

   חָשַׁבthoughtיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְהַשְׁחִיתto destroyחוֹמַתthe walls ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןthe daughter of ZionנָטָהHe had stretched outקָוthe measuring line ofלֹא־הֵשִׁיבnot he restoredיָדוֹhis handמִבַּלֵּעַfrom swallowing upוַיַּאֲבֶל־חֵלand he has caused to mourn rampartוְחוֹמָהand wallיַחְדָּוtogetherאֻמְלָלוּ׃they will languish

   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

   טָבְעוּare sunkבָאָרֶץin the landשְׁעָרֶיהָher gatesאִבַּדhe had destroyedוְשִׁבַּרand he brokeבְּרִיחֶיהָits barsמַלְכָּהּits kingוְשָׂרֶיהָand its princesבַגּוֹיִםamong the nationsאֵיןthere is noתּוֹרָהLawגַּם־נְבִיאֶיהָalso its prophetsלֹא־מָצְאוּnot foundחָזוֹןrevelationמֵיְהֹוָה׃from 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

    יֵשְׁבוּdwell shallלָאָרֶץto the groundיִדְּמוּthey have become stillזִקְנֵיthe elders ofבַת־צִיּוֹןthe daughter of Zionהֶעֱלוּcast upעָפָרdustעַל־רֹאשָׁםupon their headsחָגְרוּthey girdedשַׂקִּיםsacksהוֹרִידוּbring downלָאָרֶץto the groundרֹאשָׁןtheir headבְּתוּלֹתthe virgins ofיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Jerusalem

    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

    כָּלוּdo failבַדְּמָעוֹתby the tearsעֵינַיmy eyesחֳמַרְמְרוּthey are reddenedמֵעַיmy bowelsנִשְׁפַּךְwas pouredלָאָרֶץto the groundכְּבֵדִיmy liverעַל־שֶׁבֶרupon destructionבַּת־עַמִּיdaughter of my peopleבֵּעָטֵףbecause faintעוֹלֵלthe childוְיוֹנֵקand suckling childבִּרְחֹבוֹתin the open places ofקִרְיָה׃a town

    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

    לְאִמֹּתָםto their mothersיֹאמְרוּshall sayאַיֵּהwhere isדָּגָןgrainוָיָיִןand wineבְּהִתְעַטְּפָםwhen they faint awayכֶּחָלָלlike one fatally woundedבִּרְחֹבוֹתin the open places ofעִירthe cityבְּהִשְׁתַּפֵּךְwhen pours itself outנַפְשָׁםtheir soulאֶל־חֵיקto the bottom ofאִמֹּתָם׃their 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־אֲעִידֵךְwhat will I testify for youמָהwhatאֲדַמֶּה־לָּךְI will liken to youהַבַּתthe daughterיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemמָהwhatאַשְׁוֶה־לָּךְwill I make equal to youוַאֲנַחֲמֵךְso I may comfort youבְּתוּלַתvirgin ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןthe daughter of Zionכִּי־גָדוֹלfor great isכַּיָּםare like the seaשִׁבְרֵךְyour fractureמִיwhoיִרְפָּא־לָךְ׃he will heal for 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

    נְבִיאַיִךְyour prophetsחָזוּthey beheldלָךְto youשָׁוְאfalsehoodוְתָפֵלand shamוְלֹא־גִלּוּand not revealedעַל־עֲוֺנֵךְupon your iniquityלְהָשִׁיבto bring back[שְׁבוּתֵךְ]captivity yourוַיֶּחֱזוּand they sawלָךְto youמַשְׂאוֹתoracles ofשָׁוְאfalsehoodוּמַדּוּחִים׃and enticement

    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

    סָפְקוּthey have clappedעָלַיִךְupon youכַּפַּיִםtheir handsכׇּל־עֹבְרֵיall those who pass by ofדֶרֶךְthe wayשָׁרְקוּthey have hissedוַיָּנִעוּand they have shakenרֹאשָׁםheadsעַל־בַּתupon the daughter ofיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִםJerusalemהֲזֹאתthisהָעִירthe cityשֶׁיֹּאמְרוּthat people saidכְּלִילַתperfect ofיֹפִיbeautyמָשׂוֹשׂjoyלְכׇל־הָאָרֶץ׃to all the land

    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

    פָּצוּhas openedעָלַיִךְupon youפִּיהֶםtheir mouthכׇּל־אֹיְבַיִךְall your enemiesשָׁרְקוּthey have hissedוַיַּחַרְקוּ־שֵׁןand they have gnashed their teethאָמְרוּthey saidבִּלָּעְנוּwe have swallowed upאַךְbutזֶהthisהַיּוֹםthe dayשֶׁקִּוִּינֻהוּthat we have waited for itמָצָאנוּwe have foundרָאִינוּ׃we saw

    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

    עָשָׂהdidיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֲשֶׁרwhichזָמָםhe purposedבִּצַּעhe has fulfilledאֶמְרָתוֹhis wordאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוָּהcommandedמִימֵי־קֶדֶםfrom the days of oldהָרַסhe has torn downוְלֹאand notחָמָלhe showed pityוַיְשַׂמַּחand he has caused to rejoiceעָלַיִךְupon youאוֹיֵבis an enemyהֵרִיםhe raised upקֶרֶןthe horn ofצָרָיִךְ׃your opponents

    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

    צָעַקcryingלִבָּםtheir heartsאֶל־אֲדֹנָיto Lordחוֹמַתthe walls ofבַּת־צִיּוֹןthe daughter of Zionהוֹרִידִיsend downכַנַּחַלlike the riverדִּמְעָהtearsיוֹמָםby dayוָלַיְלָהand a nightאַל־תִּתְּנִיgive no moreפוּגַתrestלָךְto youאַל־תִּדֹּםdo not it be stillבַּת־עֵינֵךְ׃daughter 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

    קוּמִיstand upרֹנִּיcry out(בליל)[בַלַּיְלָה]in the nightלְרֹאשׁthe head ofאַשְׁמֻרוֹתthe night watchesשִׁפְכִיpour outכַמַּיִםlike the waterלִבֵּךְyour heartנֹכַחopposite toפְּנֵיface ofאֲדֹנָיthe Lordשְׂאִיlift upאֵלָיוto himכַּפַּיִךְyour handsעַל־נֶפֶשׁupon soulעוֹלָלַיִךְyour childrenהָעֲטוּפִיםthe ones enfeebledבְּרָעָבfor hungerבְּרֹאשׁin the top ofכׇּל־חוּצוֹת׃all 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

    רְאֵהbeholdיְהֹוָהthe LORDוְהַבִּיטָהand considerלְמִיto whomעוֹלַלְתָּyou have dealt severelyכֹּהthusאִם־תֹּאכַלְנָהif will they eatנָשִׁיםwomenפִּרְיָםfruit isעֹלְלֵיchildren ofטִפֻּחִיםof their tendingאִם־יֵהָרֵגif he will slayבְּמִקְדַּשׁat the sanctuary ofאֲדֹנָיthe Lordכֹּהֵןa priestוְנָבִיא׃and a prophet of

    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

    שָׁכְבוּthey lieלָאָרֶץto the groundחוּצוֹתthe streetsנַעַרa young manוְזָקֵןand the ancientבְּתוּלֹתַיmy young womenוּבַחוּרַיand my young menנָפְלוּfellבֶחָרֶבby the swordהָרַגְתָּyou killedבְּיוֹםin the day ofאַפֶּךָyour angerטָבַחְתָּyou have slaughteredלֹאnotחָמָלְתָּ׃you have spared

    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

    תִּקְרָאyou callכְיוֹםlike the day ofמוֹעֵדappointed timeמְגוּרַיmy sojourningsמִסָּבִיבall aroundוְלֹאand notהָיָהwasבְּיוֹםin the day ofאַף־יְהֹוָהthe anger of the LORDפָּלִיטan escapeeוְשָׂרִידand a survivorאֲשֶׁר־טִפַּחְתִּיwhich have I nourishedוְרִבִּיתִיand I had rearedאֹיְבִיmy enemyכִלָּם׃he has made an end of 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.