< Lamentations 3 >

1 I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֹֽו׃
2 He has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.
אֹותִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֹֽור׃
3 Surely against me he turns his hand again and again all the day.
אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָדֹ֖ו כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃ ס
4 My flesh and my skin he has made old; he has broken my bones.
בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעֹורִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמֹותָֽי׃
5 He has built against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃
6 He has made me to dwell in dark places, like those that have been long dead.
בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הֹושִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עֹולָֽם׃ ס
7 He has walled me in, so I can't escape; he has made my chains heavy.
גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃
8 Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.
גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃
9 He has walled up my ways with cut stone; he has made my paths crooked.
גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃ ס
10 He is to me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in hiding.
דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י אַרְיֵה (אֲרִ֖י) בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
11 He has obstructed my path, and torn me in pieces; he has made me desolate.
דְּרָכַ֥י סֹורֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃
12 He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתֹּו֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ ס
13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver to pierce my inward parts.
הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיֹותָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֹֽו׃
14 I have become a laughingstock to all peoples, and their song all the day.
הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכָל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃
15 He has filled me with bitterness, he has given me in full measure wormwood.
הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרֹורִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ ס
16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel; he has pressed me down in the dust.
וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃
17 You have removed my soul far away from peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.
וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁלֹ֛ום נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טֹובָֽה׃
18 And I said, "My strength and my hope has perished from YHWH."
וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתֹוחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהוָֽה׃ ס
19 Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
זְכָר־עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃
20 My soul considers them, and is depressed.
זָכֹ֣ור תִּזְכֹּ֔ור וְתָשִׁיחַ (וְתָשֹׁ֥וחַ) עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃
21 But this I call to my mind; therefore I have hope:
זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אֹוחִֽיל׃ ס
22 YHWH's faithful love does not cease; his compassion does not fail.
חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
24 "YHWH is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
חֶלְקִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אֹוחִ֥יל לֹֽו׃ ס
25 YHWH is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
טֹ֤וב יְהוָה֙ לְקֹוָ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃
26 It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of YHWH.
טֹ֤וב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהוָֽה׃
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke while he is young.
טֹ֣וב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ ס
28 Let him sit alone and keep silence when he is disciplining him.
יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃
29 Let him put his mouth to the dust, there may yet be hope.
יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃
30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled with insults.
יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס
31 For YHWH will not reject forever.
כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעֹולָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃
32 For though he may cause grief, yet he will have compassion according to the abundance of his loving kindness.
כִּ֣י אִם־הֹוגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חַסְדֹּו (חֲסָדָֽיו)׃
33 For he is not predisposed to bring affliction or suffering to human beings.
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבֹּ֔ו וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְּנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃ ס
34 To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth;
לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
35 to deprive a man of justice before the face of the Most High,
לְהַטֹּות֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֹֽון׃
36 to subvert a man in his cause, YHWH does not approve.
לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיבֹ֔ו אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ ס
37 Who can speak a thing and have it come to pass, unless YHWH has commanded it?
מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃
38 Doesn't both calamity and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?
מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיֹון֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָעֹ֖ות וְהַטֹּֽוב׃
39 Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
מַה־יִּתְאֹונֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חֶטְאֹו (חֲטָאָֽיו)׃ ס
40 Let us examine and search our ways, and return to YHWH.
נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהוָֽה׃
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.
נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled, and you have not forgiven.
נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ ס
43 You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you killed without sparing.
סַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃
44 You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
סַכֹּ֤ותָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲבֹ֖ור תְּפִלָּֽה׃
45 You have made us rubbish and refuse in the midst of the peoples.
סְחִ֧י וּמָאֹ֛וס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃ ס
46 All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.
פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כָּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃
47 Fear and the pit have come on us, devastation and destruction.
פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃
48 Streams of tears run down from my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
פַּלְגֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ ס
49 My tears flow and do not cease, without respite,
עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֹֽות׃
50 until YHWH looks down and sees from heaven.
עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
51 My eyes bring my soul grief, because of all the daughters of my city.
עֵינִי֙ עֹֽולְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנֹ֥ות עִירִֽי׃ ס
52 They have chased me relentlessly like a bird, those who are my enemies without cause.
צֹ֥וד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפֹּ֖ור אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃
53 They have cut off my life in a pit, and have cast a stone on me.
צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבֹּור֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃
54 Waters flowed over my head; I said, 'I am finished.'
צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ ס
55 I called on your name, YHWH, out of the depths of the pit.
קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבֹּ֖ור תַּחְתִּיֹּֽות׃
56 You heard my voice; do not hide your ear at my sighs, to my cry.
קֹולִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃
57 You drew near in the day that I called on you; you said, "Do not be afraid."
קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ בְּיֹ֣ום אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃ ס
58 YHWH, you have taken up the case for my soul; you have redeemed my life.
רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃
59 You have seen, YHWH, the wrong done to me; judge my case.
רָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃
60 You have seen all their vengeance and all their plots against me.
רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כָּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ ס
61 You have heard their insults, YHWH, and all their plots against me.
שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their plots against me all day long.
שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיֹונָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃
63 Look their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their mocking song.
שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ ס
64 You will render to them what they deserve, YHWH, according to the work of their hands.
תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃
65 You will give them hardness of heart as your curse to them.
תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃
66 You will pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of YHWH.
תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ

< Lamentations 3 >