Lamentations 3 אֵיכָה פרק ג׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Lamentations 3 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אֲנִיIהַגֶּבֶרthe manרָאָהhe sawעֳנִיafflictionבְּשֵׁבֶטwith the rod ofעֶבְרָתוֹ׃his fury

   I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

2. 2

   אוֹתִיmeנָהַגhe has drivenוַיֹּלַךְand he has made walkחֹשֶׁךְdarknessוְלֹא־אוֹר׃and not light

   He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

3. 3

   אַךְbutבִּיagainst meיָשֻׁבhe will returnיַהֲפֹךְhe might overthrowיָדוֹhis handכׇּל־הַיּוֹם׃all the day

   Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.

4. 4

   בִּלָּהhe has made to waste awayבְשָׂרִיmy fleshוְעוֹרִיand my skinשִׁבַּרhe broke in piecesעַצְמוֹתָי׃my bones

   My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.

5. 5

   בָּנָהbuiltעָלַיupon meוַיַּקַּףand he has surrounded meרֹאשׁgallוּתְלָאָה׃and hardship

   He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

6. 6

   בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּיםin the dark placesהוֹשִׁיבַנִיhe has caused to dwell meכְּמֵתֵיlike dead people ofעוֹלָם׃eternal

   He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

7. 7

   גָּדַרhe has walled upבַּעֲדִיfor meוְלֹאand notאֵצֵאI go forthהִכְבִּידdid more grievously afflictנְחׇשְׁתִּי׃my chain

   He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

8. 8

   גַּםalsoכִּיforאֶזְעַקI shall cryוַאֲשַׁוֵּעַand I may cry for helpשָׂתַםhe has shut outתְּפִלָּתִי׃my prayer

   Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

9. 9

   גָּדַרhe has walled upדְּרָכַיmy waysבְּגָזִיתwith hewn stoneנְתִיבֹתַיmy pathsעִוָּה׃he has made crooked

   He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

10. 10

    דֹּבa bearאֹרֵבan ambushהוּאheלִיto me(אריה)[אֲרִי]a lionבְּמִסְתָּרִים׃in hiding places

    He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

11. 11

    דְּרָכַיmy waysסוֹרֵרhe has turned asideוַיְפַשְּׁחֵנִיand he has torn in pieces meשָׂמַנִיhe has appointed meשֹׁמֵם׃desolate

    He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

12. 12

    דָּרַךְhe has bentקַשְׁתּוֹhis bowוַיַּצִּיבֵנִיand he has set up meכַּמַּטָּרָאlike the targetלַחֵץ׃for arrow

    He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13. 13

    הֵבִיאbroughtבְּכִלְיֹתָיin my kidneysבְּנֵיthe sons ofאַשְׁפָּתוֹ׃his quiver

    He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

14. 14

    הָיִיתִיI wasשְּׂחֹקa laughingstockלְכׇל־עַמִּיto all my peopleנְגִינָתָםtheir taunt songכׇּל־הַיּוֹם׃all the day

    I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

15. 15

    הִשְׂבִּיעַנִיhe has surfeited meבַמְּרוֹרִיםwith the bitter thingsהִרְוַנִיhe has made drink meלַעֲנָה׃wormwood

    He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.

16. 16

    וַיַּגְרֵסand he has brokenבֶּחָצָץwith gravelשִׁנָּיmy teethהִכְפִּישַׁנִיhe has made cower meבָּאֵפֶר׃in ashes

    He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.

17. 17

    וַתִּזְנַחand it has excludedמִשָּׁלוֹםfrom peaceנַפְשִׁיmy lifeנָשִׁיתִיI forgatטוֹבָה׃good

    And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

18. 18

    וָאֹמַרand I saidאָבַדperishedנִצְחִיmy strengthוְתוֹחַלְתִּיand my hopeמֵיְהֹוָה׃from the LORD

    And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

19. 19

    זְכׇר־עׇנְיִיremember my afflictionוּמְרוּדִיand my homelessnessלַעֲנָהwormwoodוָרֹאשׁ׃and the gall

    Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20. 20

    זָכוֹרrememberתִּזְכּוֹרit remembers[וְתָשׁוֹחַ]so it may bow downעָלַיupon meנַפְשִׁי׃my life

    My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21. 21

    זֹאתthisאָשִׁיבrecallאֶל־לִבִּיto my heartעַל־כֵּןthereforeאוֹחִיל׃will I wait

    This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22. 22

    חַסְדֵיlovingkindnesses ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDכִּיbecauseלֹא־תָמְנוּnot we have met our endכִּיbecauseלֹא־כָלוּnot they have wasted awayרַחֲמָיו׃His mercy

    It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23. 23

    חֲדָשִׁיםnew onesלַבְּקָרִיםevery morningרַבָּהmuchאֱמוּנָתֶךָ׃your faith

    They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24. 24

    חֶלְקִיmy partיְהֹוָהthe LORDאָמְרָהsaidנַפְשִׁיmy lifeעַל־כֵּןthereforeאוֹחִילwill I waitלוֹ׃to him

    The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25. 25

    טוֹבgoodיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְקֹוָוto those who wait for himלְנֶפֶשׁto the soulתִּדְרְשֶׁנּוּ׃you will seek him

    The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26. 26

    טוֹבgoodוְיָחִילand waitingוְדוּמָםand silentlyלִתְשׁוּעַתto salvationיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

27. 27

    טוֹבgoodלַגֶּבֶרfor the manכִּי־יִשָּׂאbecause takes awayעֹלyokeבִּנְעוּרָיו׃in his youth

    It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28. 28

    יֵשֵׁבshall dwellבָּדָדaloneוְיִדֹּםand let him be silentכִּיbecauseנָטַלhe tookעָלָיו׃upon him

    He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

29. 29

    יִתֵּןshall giveבֶּעָפָרin the dustפִּיהוּhis mouthאוּלַיperhapsיֵשׁthereתִּקְוָה׃hope

    He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

30. 30

    יִתֵּןshall giveלְמַכֵּהוּto the one who strikes himלֶחִיthe cheekיִשְׂבַּעhe will be satisfiedבְּחֶרְפָּה׃in scorn

    He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

31. 31

    כִּיbecauseלֹאnotיִזְנַחwill he rejectלְעוֹלָםforeverאֲדֹנָי׃the Lord

    For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

32. 32

    כִּיbecauseאִם־הוֹגָהif he has caused griefוְרִחַםand he will have compassion onכְּרֹבaccording to the multitude ofחֲסָדָיו׃His condescensions

    But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

33. 33

    כִּיforלֹאnotעִנָּהhe afflictsמִלִּבּוֹfrom his own heartוַיַּגֶּהand he has grievedבְּנֵי־אִישׁ׃sons of man of

    For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

34. 34

    לְדַכֵּאto crushתַּחַתunderרַגְלָיוHis feetכֹּלallאֲסִירֵיthe prisoners ofאָרֶץ׃the earth

    To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,

35. 35

    לְהַטּוֹתto persuadeמִשְׁפַּט־גָּבֶרthe right of a manנֶגֶדagainstפְּנֵיface ofעֶלְיוֹן׃Most-High

    To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,

36. 36

    לְעַוֵּתto pervertאָדָםmanבְּרִיבוֹin his case at lawאֲדֹנָיthe Lordלֹאnotרָאָה׃he saw

    To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

37. 37

    מִיwhoזֶהthisאָמַרsaidוַתֶּהִיand it wasאֲדֹנָיthe Lordלֹאnotצִוָּה׃commanded

    Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38. 38

    מִפִּיfrom the mouth ofעֶלְיוֹןMost-Highלֹאnotתֵצֵאshall proceedהָרָעוֹתthe injuriesוְהַטּוֹב׃and the good

    Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

39. 39

    מַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵןwhat will he complainאָדָםmanחָיaliveגֶּבֶרa manעַל־חֲטָאָו׃for his sins

    Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

40. 40

    נַחְפְּשָׂהlet us examineדְרָכֵינוּour waysוְנַחְקֹרָהand let us examineוְנָשׁוּבָהand we will returnעַד־יְהֹוָה׃until the LORD

    Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

41. 41

    נִשָּׂאwe carryלְבָבֵנוּour heartsאֶל־כַּפָּיִםto the palmsאֶל־אֵלunto Godבַּשָּׁמָיִם׃in the heavens

    Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

42. 42

    נַחְנוּweפָשַׁעְנוּwe have transgressedוּמָרִינוּand we have rebelledאַתָּהyouלֹאnotסָלָחְתָּ׃you have forgiven

    We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

43. 43

    סַכּוֹתָהyou have coveredבָאַףin angerוַתִּרְדְּפֵנוּand you have pursued usהָרַגְתָּyou killedלֹאnotחָמָלְתָּ׃you have spared

    Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

44. 44

    סַכּוֹתָהyou have coveredבֶעָנָןwith cloudלָךְto youמֵעֲבוֹרfrom passing throughתְּפִלָּה׃prayer

    Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

45. 45

    סְחִיthe offscouringוּמָאוֹסand refuseתְּשִׂימֵנוּyou have made usבְּקֶרֶבamongהָעַמִּים׃the people

    Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.

46. 46

    פָּצוּhas openedעָלֵינוּover usפִּיהֶםtheir mouthכׇּל־אֹיְבֵינוּ׃all our enemies

    All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

47. 47

    פַּחַדdreadוָפַחַתand pitהָיָהwasלָנוּto usהַשֵּׁאתthe devastationוְהַשָּׁבֶר׃and the brokenness

    Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

48. 48

    פַּלְגֵי־מַיִםstreams of waterתֵּרַדit goes downעֵינִיmy eyeעַל־שֶׁבֶרupon destructionבַּת־עַמִּי׃daughter of my people

    Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49. 49

    עֵינִיmy eyeנִגְּרָהtrickles downוְלֹאand notתִדְמֶהit will ceaseמֵאֵיןwithoutהֲפֻגוֹת׃stop

    Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

50. 50

    עַד־יַשְׁקִיףuntil he will look downוְיֵרֶאand may he seeיְהֹוָהthe LORDמִשָּׁמָיִם׃from heaven

    Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.

51. 51

    עֵינִיmy eyeעוֹלְלָהit has dealt severelyלְנַפְשִׁיmy soulמִכֹּלof allבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofעִירִי׃my city

    Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

52. 52

    צוֹדsorelyצָדוּנִיthey hunted meכַּצִּפּוֹרlike the birdאֹיְבַיmy enemiesחִנָּם׃without cause

    Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.

53. 53

    צָמְתוּthey destroyedבַבּוֹרin the pitחַיָּיmy lifeוַיַּדּוּ־אֶבֶןand they threw down stoneבִּי׃upon me

    They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

54. 54

    צָפוּ־מַיִםthey floated waterעַל־רֹאשִׁיupon my headאָמַרְתִּיI saidנִגְזָרְתִּי׃I have been cut off

    Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

55. 55

    קָרָאתִיcalledשִׁמְךָyour nameיְהֹוָהthe LORDמִבּוֹרout of the pit ofתַּחְתִּיּוֹת׃the nethermost parts of

    I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

56. 56

    קוֹלִיmy voiceשָׁמָעְתָּyou have heardאַל־תַּעְלֵםdo not hideאׇזְנְךָyour earלְרַוְחָתִיto my reliefלְשַׁוְעָתִי׃to my cry for help

    Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57. 57

    קָרַבְתָּyou drew nearבְּיוֹםin the day ofאֶקְרָאֶךָּI call out to youאָמַרְתָּhave saidאַל־תִּירָא׃be not afraid

    Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

58. 58

    רַבְתָּyou have conductedאֲדֹנָיthe Lordרִיבֵיthe cases ofנַפְשִׁיmy lifeגָּאַלְתָּwhich you redeemedחַיָּי׃my life

    O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

59. 59

    רָאִיתָהyou have seenיְהֹוָהthe LORDעַוָּתָתִיmy oppressionשׇׁפְטָהjudgedמִשְׁפָּטִי׃my judgment

    O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

60. 60

    רָאִיתָהyou have seenכׇּל־נִקְמָתָםall revengeכׇּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָםall their plansלִי׃to me

    Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

61. 61

    שָׁמַעְתָּyou have heardחֶרְפָּתָםtheir reproachיְהֹוָהthe LORDכׇּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָםall their plansעָלָי׃against me

    Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;

62. 62

    שִׂפְתֵיthe lips ofקָמַיthose who rise against meוְהֶגְיוֹנָםand their mutteringעָלַיupon meכׇּל־הַיּוֹם׃all the day

    The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

63. 63

    שִׁבְתָּםtheir sitting downוְקִימָתָםand their risingהַבִּיטָהbeholdאֲנִיIמַנְגִּינָתָם׃their mocking song

    Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

64. 64

    תָּשִׁיבrenderלָהֶםto themגְּמוּלrecompenseיְהֹוָהthe LORDכְּמַעֲשֵׂהas the work ofיְדֵיהֶם׃their hands

    Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

65. 65

    תִּתֵּןyou shall giveלָהֶםto themמְגִנַּת־לֵבsorrow of heartתַּאֲלָתְךָyour curseלָהֶם׃to them

    Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.

66. 66

    תִּרְדֹּףyou pursueבְּאַףin angerוְתַשְׁמִידֵםand you will destroy themמִתַּחַתfrom beneathשְׁמֵיthe heavens ofיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.