< Lamentations 3 >

1 I am the man that hath seen affliction under the rod of His wrath;
אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃
2 He hath led me and brought me into darkness, and not into light;
אוֹתִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃
3 Yea, against me doth he again and again turn his hand all the day long.
אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ ס
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעוֹרִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃
5 He hath builded against me, and encompassed me with bitterness and woe.
בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃
6 He hath set me in dark places, as those that have long been dead.
בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃ ס
7 He hath hedged me about, so that I cannot get out; he hath made my chain heavy;
גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃
8 Yea, when I cry and call aloud, he shutteth out my prayer.
גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃
9 He blocketh up my way with hewn stone; he maketh my paths crooked.
גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃ ס
10 A bear lying in wait hath he been to me, a lion in lurking-places.
דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י אריה בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and torn me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.
דְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ ס
13 He hath caused the sons of his quiver to pierce my reins.
הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיוֹתָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃
14 I have been a laughing-stock to all my people, their song all the day.
הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכָל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
15 He hath filled me with bitterness; he hath made me drunk with wormwood.
הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ ס
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel-stones; He hath covered me with ashes.
וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃
17 Yea, thou hast removed my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity.
וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁל֛וֹם נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃
18 And I say, “My confidence and my hope in Jehovah are gone!”
וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהוָֽה׃ ס
19 Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall!
זְכָר־עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃
20 Yea, thou wilt remember them, for my soul sinketh within me!
זָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר ותשיח עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃
21 This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope;
זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃ ס
22 It is of the mercy of Jehovah that we are not consumed; yea, his compassion faileth not;
חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃
23 It is new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
24 Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul, therefore do I hope in him.
חֶלְקִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃ ס
25 Jehovah is good to them that trust in him, to the soul that seeketh him.
ט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ לְקוָֹ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃
26 It is good that a man hope, and quietly wait for salvation from Jehovah.
ט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהוָֽה׃
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth;
ט֣וֹב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ ס
28 That he sit alone and keep silence, since He layeth it upon him;
יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃
29 That he put his mouth in the dust, [[saying to himself, ]] “Perhaps there may be hope!”
יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃
30 That he offer his cheek to the smiter; that he be filled with reproach.
יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever;
כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃
32 For though he cause grief, yet doth he have compassion according to his great mercy;
כִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חסדו׃
33 For he doth not willingly afflict and grieve the children of men.
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבּ֔וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃ ס
34 Doth one trample under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
35 Doth he bend the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
לְהַטּוֹת֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
36 Doth he subvert a man in his cause, and shall not the Lord behold it?
לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ ס
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord hath not commanded?
מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃
38 Cometh not evil, as well as good, from the mouth of the Most High?
מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃
39 Wherefore then murmureth the living man? Let him murmur at his own sin!
מַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חטאו׃ ס
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah!
נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהוָֽה׃
41 Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens!
נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
42 We have transgressed; we have rebelled; thou hast not forgiven!
נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ ס
43 Thou hast hidden thyself in anger, and hast pursued us; thou hast slain and hast not spared;
סַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃
44 Thou hast hidden thyself in a cloud, that our prayer may not pass through;
סַכּ֤וֹתָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲב֖וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃
45 Thou hast made us the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the nations.
סְחִ֧י וּמָא֛וֹס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃ ס
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us;
פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כָּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃
47 Terror and the pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction;
פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃
48 Mine eye runneth down with streams of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
פַּלְגֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ ס
49 Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃
50 Until Jehovah look down and behold from heaven.
עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
51 Mine eye is painful to me on account of all the daughters of my city.
עֵינִי֙ עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנ֥וֹת עִירִֽי׃ ס
52 They that are my enemies without cause hunt me down like a bird;
צ֥וֹד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃
53 They take away my life in the dungeon; they cast a stone upon me;
צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃
54 Waters flow over my head; I say, “I am undone!”
צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ ס
55 I call upon thy name, O Jehovah, from the deep dungeon;
קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃
56 Hear thou my voice! hide not thine ear from my cry for relief!
קוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃
57 Be near to me, when I call upon thee! Say, “Fear not!”
קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃ ס
58 Thou maintainest my cause, O Lord; thou redeemest my life!
רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃
59 Thou, O Jehovah, seest the wrong done to me; Maintain thou my cause!
רָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃
60 Thou seest all their vengeance, all their devices against me.
רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כָּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ ס
61 Thou hearest their reproach, O Jehovah, all their devices against me,
שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃
62 The words of my adversaries, and their machinations against me all the day long!
שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
63 Behold their sitting down and their rising up! I am their song.
שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ ס
64 Render to them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands!
תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃
65 Give them blindness of mind! thy curse be upon them!
תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃
66 Pursue them in thine anger, and destroy them from under Jehovah's heaven!
תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ

< Lamentations 3 >