مَراثِي إرْمِي 3

١ 1 أَنَا هُوَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي شَهِدَ الْبَلِيَّةَ الَّتِي أَنْزَلَهَا قَضِيبُ سُخْطِهِ.

I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's anger.

٢ 2 قَادَنِي وَسَيَّرَنِي فِي الظُّلْمَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ نُورٍ.

He has driven me away, forcing me to walk in darkness instead of the light.

٣ 3 حَقّاً إِنَّهُ يَمُدُّ يَدَهُ عَلَيَّ مَرَّةً تِلْوَ الْمَرَّةِ طُولَ النَّهَارِ.

In fact he hits me again and again all day long.

٤ 4 أَبْلَى لَحْمِي وَجِلْدِي. هَشَّمَ عِظَامِي.

He has worn me out; he has broken me in pieces.

٥ 5 حَاصَرَنِي وَأَحَاطَنِي بِالْعَلْقَمِ وَالْمَشَقَّةِ.

He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.

٦ 6 أَسْكَنَنِي فِي الظُّلْمَةِ كَمَوْتَى الْحِقَبِ الْغَابِرَةِ.

He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.

٧ 7 سَيَّجَ حَوْلِي حَتَّى لَا أُفْلِتَ. أَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ قُيُودِي.

He has built a wall around me so I can't escape; he has bound me with heavy chains.

٨ 8 حَتَّى حِينَ أَصْرُخُ وَأَسْتَغِيثُ يَصُدُّ صَلاتِي.

Even when I keep on crying out for help, he refuses to listen to my prayer.

٩ 9 قَدْ أَغْلَقَ عَلَيَّ طُرُقِي بِحِجَارَةٍ مَنْحُوتَةٍ، وَجَعَلَ مَسَالِكِي مُلْتَوِيَةً.

He has put stone blocks in my way and sends me down crooked paths.

١٠ 10 هُوَ لِي كَدُبٍّ مُتَرَبِّصٍ، وَكَأَسَدٍ مُتَرَصِّدٍ فِي مَكْمَنِهِ.

He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,

١١ 11 أَضَلَّ طُرُقِي وَمَزَّقَنِي إِرْباً. دَمَّرَنِي.

He dragged me from my path and ripped me to pieces, leaving me helpless.

١٢ 12 وَتَّرَ قَوْسَهُ وَنَصَبَنِي هَدَفاً لِسَهْمِهِ.

He loaded his bow with an arrow and used me as his target,

١٣ 13 اخْتَرَقَ كُلْيَتَيَّ بِنِبَالِ جُعْبَتِهِ.

He shot me in my kidneys with his arrows.

١٤ 14 صِرْتُ مَثَارَ هُزْءٍ لِشَعْبِي وَأُهْجِيَةً لَهُمُ الْيَوْمَ كُلَّهُ.

Now everyone laughs at me, singing songs that mock me all day long.

١٥ 15 أَشْبَعَنِي مَرَارَةً، وَأَرْوَانِي أَفْسَنْتِيناً.

He has filled me with bitterness; he has filled me up with bitter wormwood.

١٦ 16 هَشَّمَ أَسْنَانِي بِالْحَصَى، وَطَمَرَنِي بِالرَّمَادِ.

He has broken my teeth with grit; he has trampled me in the dust.

١٧ 17 فَتَنَاءَتْ نَفْسِي عَنِ السَّلامِ، وَنَسِيتُ طَعْمَ الْخَيْرَاتِ.

Peace has been torn away from me; I've forgotten all that's good in life.

١٨ 18 فَقُلْتُ: «تَلاشَتْ قُوَّتِي، وَكُلُّ مَا كُنْتُ أَرْجُوهُ مِنَ الرَّبِّ».

That's why I say, “My expectation of a long life is gone, along with all that I hoped for from Lord.

١٩ 19 اُذْكُرْ بَلِيَّتِي وَتَيَهَانِي وَالأَفْسَنْتِينَ وَالْمَرَارَةَ.

Don't forget everything I've suffered in my wandering, as bitters as wormwood and poison.

٢٠ 20 مَا بَرِحَتْ نَفْسِي تَذْكُرُهَا وَهِيَ مُنْحَنِيَةٌ فِي دَاخِلِي.

I certainly haven't forgotten. I remember it all too well, so I sink into depression.

٢١ 21 وَلَكِنْ هَذَا مَا أُنَاجِي بِهِ نَفْسِي، لِذَلِكَ يَغْمُرُنِي الرَّجَاءُ:

But I still hope when I think about this:

٢٢ 22 مِنْ إِحْسَانَاتِ الرَّبِّ أَنَّنَا لَمْ نَفْنَ، لأَنَّ مَرَاحِمَهُ لَا تَزُولُ.

It's because of the Lord's trustworthy love that our lives are not finished, for through his merciful actions he never lets us down.

٢٣ 23 تَتَجَدَّدُ فِي كُلِّ صَبَاحٍ. فَائِقَةٌ أَمَانَتُكَ.

He renews them every morning. How wonderfully trustworthy you are, Lord!

٢٤ 24 تَقُولُ نَفْسِي: «الرَّبُّ هُوَ نَصِيبِي فَلِذَلِكَ أَرْجُوهُ».

The Lord is all I need,” I tell myself, “so I will put my hope in him.”

٢٥ 25 الرَّبُّ صَالِحٌ لِمَنْ يَرْجُونَهُ وَلِلنَّفْسِ الَّتِي تَلْتَمِسُهُ.

The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to anyone who seeks to follow him.

٢٦ 26 خَيْرٌ لِلْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَنْتَظِرَ بِصَمْتٍ خَلاصَ الرَّبِّ.

It is good to wait quietly for the Lord's salvation.

٢٧ 27 خَيْرٌ لِلْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ النِّيرَ فِي حَدَاثَتِهِ.

It is good for people to learn to patiently bear discipline while they're still young.

٢٨ 28 لِيَعْتَكِفْ وَحِيداً فِي صَمْتٍ لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ وَضَعَ النِّيرَ عَلَيْهِ.

They should sit by themselves in silence, because it's God who has disciplined them.

٢٩ 29 لِيُوَارِ وَجْهَهُ فِي التُّرَابِ تَذَلُّلاً، عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ هُنَاكَ رَجَاءٌ.

They should bow low with their faces to the ground, for there may still be hope.

٣٠ 30 لِيَبْذُلْ خَدَّهُ لِلاطِمِ، وَيَشْبَعْ تَعْيِيراً.

They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.

٣١ 31 لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ لَا يَنْبِذُ إِلَى الأَبَدِ.

For the Lord won't abandon us forever.

٣٢ 32 فَإِنَّهُ وَلَوْ أَحْزَنَ يَرْأَفُ بِمُقْتَضَى رَحْمَتِهِ الْفَائِقَةِ.

Even though he may bring sadness, he shows us mercy because his trustworthy love is so great.

٣٣ 33 لأَنَّهُ لَا يَتَعَمَّدُ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَ أَبْنَاءَ الْبَشَرِ بِالْبُؤْسِ وَالأَسَى،

For he doesn't willingly hurt people, or cause them grief.

٣٤ 34 وَلا أَنْ يَسْحَقَ أَسْرَى الأَرْضِ تَحْتَ الأَقْدَامِ،

Whether it's mistreating all the prisoners of the land,

٣٥ 35 وَلا أَنْ يَجُورَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى حُقُوقِ الإِنْسَانِ، أَمَامَ عَيْنَيِ الرَّبِّ الْعَلِيِّ

Or denying someone their rights as the Most High watches,

٣٦ 36 أَوْ أَنْ لَا يُنْصَفَ الإِنْسَانُ فِي دَعْوَاهُ. أَلا يَرَى الرَّبُّ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ؟

Or cheating someone in their legal case—these things the Lord doesn't approve of.

٣٧ 37 مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَقْضِي بِأَمْرٍ فَيَتَحَقَّقَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ الرَّبُّ قَدْ أَمَرَ بِهِ؟

Who spoke and it came into existence? Wasn't it the Lord who commanded it?

٣٨ 38 أَلَيْسَ مِنْ فَمِ الْعَلِيِّ يَصْدُرُ الضُّرُّ وَالْخَيْرُ؟

When the Most High speaks it can be a disaster or a blessing.

٣٩ 39 فَلِمَاذَا يَشْتَكِي الإِنْسَانُ الْحَيُّ حِينَ يُعَاقَبُ عَلَى خَطَايَاهُ؟

Why should any human being complain about the results of their sins?

٤٠ 40 لِنَفْحَصْ طُرُقَنَا وَنَخْتَبِرْهَا وَنَرْجِعْ إِلَى الرَّبِّ.

We should look at ourselves, examine what we're doing, and return to the Lord.

٤١ 41 لِنَرْفَعْ قُلُوبَنَا وَأَيْدِيَنَا إِلَى اللهِ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ.

Let's not just hold up our hands to God in heaven, but our minds as well, saying,

٤٢ 42 قَدْ تَعَدَّيْنَا وَتَمَرَّدْنَا، وَأَنْتَ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ.

“We are the ones who sinned; we are the ones who rebelled; and you haven't forgiven us!”

٤٣ 43 لَفَّعْتَ نَفْسَكَ بِالْغَضَبِ وَتَعَقَّبْتَنَا. قَتَلْتَ مِنْ غَيْرِ رَحْمَةٍ.

You have wrapped yourself in anger and chased us down, killing without mercy. You have killed without pity.

٤٤ 44 تَلَفَّعْتَ بِالسَّحَابِ حَتَّى لَا تَبْلُغَ إِلَيْكَ صَلاةٌ.

You have wrapped yourself with a cloud that no prayer can penetrate.

٤٥ 45 قَدْ جَعَلْتَنَا أَوْسَاخاً وَأَقْذَاراً بَيْنَ الشُّعُوبِ.

You have made us waste and refuse to the nations around.

٤٦ 46 فَتَحَ عَلَيْنَا جَمِيعُ أَعْدَائِنَا أفْوَاهَهُمْ،

All our enemies open their mouths to criticize us.

٤٧ 47 وَحَلَّ بِنَا الرُّعْبُ وَالْهَلاكُ وَالدَّمَارُ وَالسَّحْقُ.

We're terrified and trapped, devastated and destroyed.

٤٨ 48 تَفِيضُ عَيْنَايَ بِأَنْهَارِ مِيَاهٍ عَلَى دَمَارِ ابْنَةِ شَعْبِي.

Tears stream from my eyes over the death of my people.

٤٩ 49 لَنْ تَكُفَّ عَيْنَايَ عَنِ الْبُكَاءِ أَبداً،

My eyes overflow with tears all the time. They won't stop

٥٠ 50 حَتَّى يُشْرِفَ الرَّبُّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَيُبْصِرَ.

Until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what's going on.

٥١ 51 تَتْلَفُ عَيْنَايَ عَلَى مَصِيرِ كُلِّ بَنَاتِ مَدِينَتِي.

What I've seen torments me because of what's happened to all the women in my city.

٥٢ 52 قَدِ اصْطَادَنِي، كَعُصْفُورٍ، أَعْدَائِي الَّذِينَ لَمْ أُسِئْ إِلَيْهِمْ،

For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.

٥٣ 53 طَرَحُونِي حَيًّا فِي الْجُبِّ وَرَجَمُونِي بِالْحِجَارَةِ.

They tried to kill me by tossing me into a pit and throwing stones at me.

٥٤ 54 طَغَتِ الْمِيَاهُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِي، فَقُلْتُ: «قَدْ هَلَكْتُ».

Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.

٥٥ 55 اسْتَغَثْتُ بِاسْمِكَ يَا رَبُّ مِنْ أَعْمَاقِ الْجُبِّ،

I called out for you, Lord, from deep inside the pit.

٥٦ 56 فَسَمِعْتَ صَوْتِي. لَا تَصُمَّ أُذُنَيْكَ عَنْ صُرَاخِ اسْتِغَاثَتِي.

You heard me when I prayed, “Please don't ignore my cry for help.”

٥٧ 57 اقْتَرَبْتَ حِينَ دَعَوْتُكَ إِذْ قُلْتَ: «لا تَخَفْ».

You came to me when I called you, and you told me, “Don't be afraid!”

٥٨ 58 قَدْ دَافَعْتَ عَنْ دَعْوَايَ يَا رَبُّ، وَافْتَدَيْتَ حَيَاتِي.

You have taken my case and defended me; you have saved my life!

٥٩ 59 أَنْتَ شَهِدْتَ مَا أَسَاءُوا بِهِ إِلَيَّ يَا رَبُّ، فَاقْضِ فِي دَعْوَايَ.

Lord, you have seen the injustices done to me; please vindicate me!

٦٠ 60 قَدْ رَأَيْتَ انْتِقَامَهُمْ كُلَّهُ وَسَائِرَ مُؤَامَرَاتِهِمْ عَلَيَّ.

You have observed how vengeful they are and how often they've plotted against me.

٦١ 61 سَمِعْتَ تَعْيِيرَهُمْ يَا رَبُّ، وَجَمِيعَ مُؤَامَرَاتِهِمْ عَلَيَّ.

Lord, you have heard how they've insulted me, and what they've plotted against me,

٦٢ 62 وَسَمِعْتَ كَلامَ أَعْدَائِي وَتَدْبِيرَاتِهِمْ ضِدِّي الْيَوْمَ كُلَّهُ.

How my enemies talk against me and complain about me all the time!

٦٣ 63 رَاقِبْ جُلُوسَهُمْ وَقِيَامَهُمْ، فَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُ أُهْجِيَةً لَهُمْ.

Just look! Whether they're sitting down and or standing up, they go on making fun of me in their songs.

٦٤ 64 جَازِهِمْ يَا رَبُّ بِمُقْتَضَى مَا جَنَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ.

Pay them back as they deserve, Lord, for all they've done!

٦٥ 65 اجْعَلْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ غَشَاوَةً، وَلْتَكُنْ لَعْنَتُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ.

Give them a covering for their minds! May your curse be on them!

٦٦ 66 تَعَقَّبْهُمْ بِسُخْطٍ وَأَهْلِكْهُمْ مِنْ تَحْتِ سَمَاوَاتِكَ يَا رَبُّ.

Chase them down in your anger, Lord, and get rid of them from the earth!