Lamentations 4 אֵיכָה פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Lamentations 4 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1
אֵיכָהe/KHAhowיוּעַםyu/AMis become dimזָהָבza/HAVgoldיִשְׁנֶאyish/NEis changedהַכֶּתֶםhak/KE/temthe fine goldהַטּוֹבhat/TOVthe goodתִּשְׁתַּפֵּכְנָהtish/tap/PEKH/naare poured outאַבְנֵי־קֹדֶשׁav/NE-KO/deshthe stones of the sanctuaryבְּרֹאשׁbe/ROSHat the head ofכׇּל־חוּצוֹת׃kol-chu/TSOTall the streets
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
2
בְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofצִיּוֹןTsiy/YONZionהַיְקָרִיםhay/ka/RIMthe preciousהַמְסֻלָּאִיםham/sul/la/IMcomparableבַּפָּזbap/PAZwith the pure goldאֵיכָהe/KHAhowנֶחְשְׁבוּnech/she/VUare they esteemedלְנִבְלֵי־חֶרֶשׂle/niv/LE-CHE/resas earthen pitchersמַעֲשֵׂהma/a/SEthe work ofיְדֵיye/DEthe hands ofיוֹצֵר׃yo/TSERa potter
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3
גַּם־[תַּנִּים]gam-tan/NIMeven the jackals(תנין)tanayanחָלְצוּCHAL/tsuthey draw outשַׁדshadthe breastהֵינִיקוּhe/NI/kuthey suckleגּוּרֵיהֶןgu/re/HENtheir youngבַּת־עַמִּיbat-am/MIthe daughter of my peopleלְאַכְזָרle/akh/ZARhas become cruel(כיkhayענים)nayam[כַּיְעֵנִים]kay/e/NIMlike the ostrichesבַּמִּדְבָּר׃bam/mid/BARin the wilderness
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4
דָּבַקda/VAKcleavesלְשׁוֹןle/SHONthe tongue ofיוֹנֵקyo/NEKthe sucking childאֶל־חִכּוֹel-chik/KOto the roof of his mouthבַּצָּמָאbats/tsa/MAfor thirstעוֹלָלִיםo/la/LIMthe young childrenשָׁאֲלוּsha/a/LUaskלֶחֶםLE/chembreadפֹּרֵשׂpo/RESone breakingאֵיןenthere is noלָהֶם׃la/HEMfor them
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
5
הָאֹכְלִיםha/okh/LIMthose that ateלְמַעֲדַנִּיםle/ma/a/dan/NIMdelicatelyנָשַׁמּוּna/SHAM/muare desolateבַּחוּצוֹתba/chu/TSOTin the streetsהָאֱמֻנִיםha/e/mu/NIMthose brought upעֲלֵיa/LEinתוֹלָעto/LAscarletחִבְּקוּchib/be/KUthey embraceאַשְׁפַּתּוֹת׃ash/pat/TOTash heaps
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6
וַיִּגְדַּלvay/yig/DALfor is greaterעֲוֺןa/VONthe iniquity ofבַּת־עַמִּיbat-am/MIthe daughter of my peopleמֵחַטַּאתme/chat/TATmore than the sin ofסְדֹםSe/DOMSodomהַהֲפוּכָהha/ha/fu/KHAwhich was overthrownכְמוֹ־רָגַעkhe/MO-RA/gaas in a momentוְלֹא־חָלוּve/LO-CHA/luand not weariedבָהּvaupon herיָדָיִם׃ya/DA/yimhands
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
7
זַכּוּzak/KUwere purerנְזִירֶיהָNe/zi/RE/haher Naziritesמִשֶּׁלֶגmish/SHE/legthan snowצַחוּtsa/CHUthey were whiterמֵחָלָבme/cha/LAVthan milkאָדְמוּAD/muthey were more ruddyעֶצֶםE/tsemin bodyמִפְּנִינִיםmip/pe/ni/NIMthan pearlsסַפִּירsap/PIRof sapphireגִּזְרָתָם׃giz/ra/TAMtheir polishing
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
8
חָשַׁךְcha/SHAKHis darkerמִשְּׁחוֹרmish/she/CHORthan blacknessתׇּאֳרָםto/o/RAMtheir visageלֹאlonotנִכְּרוּnik/ke/RUthey are knownבַּחוּצוֹתba/chu/TSOTin the streetsצָפַדtsa/FADcleavesעוֹרָםo/RAMtheir skinעַל־עַצְמָםal-ats/MAMto their bonesיָבֵשׁya/VESHis witheredהָיָהha/YAit has becomeכָעֵץ׃kha/ETSlike wood
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9
טוֹבִיםto/VIMbetterהָיוּha/YUwereחַלְלֵי־חֶרֶבchal/LE-CHE/revthe slain of the swordמֵחַלְלֵיme/chal/LEthan the slain ofרָעָבra/AVhungerשֶׁהֵםshe/HEMfor theseיָזֻבוּya/zu/VUpine awayמְדֻקָּרִיםme/duk/ka/RIMstricken throughמִתְּנוּבֹתmit/te/nu/VOTfor want of the fruits ofשָׂדָי׃sa/DAYthe field
They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
10
יְדֵיye/DEthe hands ofנָשִׁיםna/SHIMwomenרַחֲמָנִיּוֹתra/cha/ma/niy/YOTcompassionateבִּשְּׁלוּbish/she/LUhave boiledיַלְדֵיהֶןyal/de/HENtheir own childrenהָיוּha/YUthey wereלְבָרוֹתle/va/ROTtheir foodלָמוֹLA/mofor themבְּשֶׁבֶרbe/SHE/verin the destruction ofבַּת־עַמִּי׃bat-am/MIthe daughter of my people
The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
כִּלָּהkil/LAhas accomplishedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־חֲמָתוֹet-cha/ma/TOHis furyשָׁפַךְsha/FAKHHe has poured outחֲרוֹןcha/RONthe fierceness ofאַפּוֹap/POHis angerוַיַּצֶּת־אֵשׁvay/yats/TSET-eshand He has kindled a fireבְּצִיּוֹןbe/Tsiy/YONin Zionוַתּאכַלvatt/KHALand it has devouredיְסֹדֹתֶיהָ׃ye/so/do/te/HAher foundations
The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12
לֹאlonotהֶאֱמִינוּhe/e/MI/nuwould believeמַלְכֵי־אֶרֶץmal/KHE-E/retsthe kings of the earth(וכל)vakhal[כֹּל]kolallיֹשְׁבֵיyosh/VEthe inhabitants ofתֵבֵלte/VELthe worldכִּיkithatיָבֹאya/VOwould enterצַרtsarthe adversaryוְאוֹיֵבve/o/YEVand the enemyבְּשַׁעֲרֵיbe/sha/a/REin the gates ofיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Ye/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalem
The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
13
מֵחַטֹּאותme/chat/TOTfor the sins ofנְבִיאֶיהָne/vi/E/haher prophetsעֲוֺנֹתa/vo/NOTthe iniquities ofכֹּהֲנֶיהָko/ha/NE/haher priestsהַשֹּׁפְכִיםhash/shof/KHIMthat have shedבְּקִרְבָּהּbe/kir/BAin her midstדַּםdamthe blood ofצַדִּיקִים׃tsad/di/KIMthe just
For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
14
נָעוּna/Uthey wanderedעִוְרִיםiv/RIMas blind menבַּחוּצוֹתba/chu/TSOTin the streetsנְגֹאֲלוּne/go/a/LUthey have polluted themselvesבַּדָּםbad/DAMwith bloodבְּלֹאbe/LOso that notיוּכְלוּyukh/LUmen couldיִגְּעוּyig/ge/Utouchבִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶם׃bil/vu/she/HEMtheir garments
They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
15
סוּרוּSU/rudepartטָמֵאta/MEit is uncleanקָרְאוּka/re/Uthey criedלָמוֹLA/moto themסוּרוּSU/rudepartסוּרוּSU/rudepartאַל־תִּגָּעוּal-tig/GA/utouch notכִּיkiwhenנָצוּna/TSUthey fledגַּם־נָעוּgam-NA/uand wanderedאָמְרוּa/me/RUthey saidבַּגּוֹיִםbag/go/YIMamong the nationsלֹאlonotיוֹסִפוּyo/SI/fushall againלָגוּר׃la/GURto sojourn
They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.
16
פְּנֵיpe/NEthe face ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDחִלְּקָםchil/le/KAMhas divided themלֹאlonotיוֹסִיףyo/SIFHe will againלְהַבִּיטָםle/hab/bi/TAMregard themפְּנֵיpe/NEthe face ofכֹהֲנִיםkho/ha/NIMthe priestsלֹאlonotנָשָׂאוּna/SA/uthey lifted up(זקנים)zakanayam[וּזְקֵנִים]u/ze/ke/NIMand the eldersלֹאlonotחָנָנוּ׃cha/NA/nuthey favored
The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
17
[עוֹדֵינוּ]o/de/NUas for us yetתִּכְלֶינָהtikh/LE/nafailעֵינֵינוּe/NE/nuour eyesאֶל־עֶזְרָתֵנוּel-ez/ra/TE/nufor our helpהָבֶלHA/velin vainבְּצִפִּיָּתֵנוּbe/tsip/piy/ya/TE/nuin our watchingצִפִּינוּtsip/PI/nuwe have watchedאֶל־גּוֹיel-goyfor a nationלֹאlonotיוֹשִׁעַ׃yo/SHI/acould save
As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.
18
צָדוּtsa/DUthey huntצְעָדֵינוּtse/a/DE/nuour stepsמִלֶּכֶתmil/LE/khetfrom walkingבִּרְחֹבֹתֵינוּbir/cho/vo/TE/nuin our streetsקָרַבka/RAVis nearקִצֵּנוּkits/TSE/nuour endמָלְאוּma/le/Uare fulfilledיָמֵינוּya/ME/nuour daysכִּי־בָאki-vafor has comeקִצֵּנוּ׃kits/TSE/nuour end
They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19
קַלִּיםkal/LIMswifterהָיוּha/YUwereרֹדְפֵינוּrod/FE/nuour pursuersמִנִּשְׁרֵיmin/nish/REthan the eagles ofשָׁמָיִםsha/MA/yimthe heavensעַל־הֶהָרִיםal-he/ha/RIMupon the mountainsדְּלָקֻנוּde/la/KU/nuthey pursued usבַּמִּדְבָּרbam/mid/BARin the wildernessאָרְבוּa/re/VUthey laid waitלָנוּ׃LA/nufor us
Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20
רוּחַRU/achthe breath ofאַפֵּינוּap/PE/nuour nostrilsמְשִׁיחַme/SHI/achthe anointed ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDנִלְכַּדnil/KADwas takenבִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָםbish/chi/to/TAMin their pitsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERof whomאָמַרְנוּa/MAR/nuwe saidבְּצִלּוֹbe/tsil/LOunder his shadowנִחְיֶהnich/YEwe shall liveבַגּוֹיִם׃vag/go/YIMamong the nations
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.
21
שִׂישִׂיSI/sirejoiceוְשִׂמְחִיve/sim/CHIand be gladבַּת־אֱדוֹםbat-E/DOMO daughter of Edom[יוֹשֶׁבֶת]yo/SHE/vetthat dwellsבְּאֶרֶץbe/E/retsin the land ofעוּץUtsUzגַּם־עָלַיִךְgam-a/LA/yikhto you alsoתַּעֲבׇר־כּוֹסta/a/VOR-kosshall pass the cupתִּשְׁכְּרִיtish/ke/RIyou shall be drunkenוְתִתְעָרִי׃ve/tit/a/RIand shall make yourself naked
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
22
תַּם־עֲוֺנֵךְtam-a/vo/NEKHis accomplished your iniquityבַּת־צִיּוֹןbat-Tsiy/YONO daughter of Zionלֹאlonotיוֹסִיףyo/SIFHe will againלְהַגְלוֹתֵךְle/hag/lo/TEKHcarry you into captivityפָּקַדpa/KADHe will punishעֲוֺנֵךְa/vo/NEKHyour iniquityבַּת־אֱדוֹםbat-E/DOMO daughter of Edomגִּלָּהgil/LAHe will uncoverעַל־חַטֹּאתָיִךְ׃al-chat/to/TA/yikhyour sins
The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.