אֵיכָה 3
| אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֹֽו׃ | 1 |
I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's anger.
| אֹותִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֹֽור׃ | 2 |
He has driven me away, forcing me to walk in darkness instead of the light.
| אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָדֹ֖ו כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃ ס | 3 |
In fact he hits me again and again all day long.
| בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעֹורִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמֹותָֽי׃ | 4 |
He has worn me out; he has broken me in pieces.
| בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃ | 5 |
He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.
| בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הֹושִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עֹולָֽם׃ ס | 6 |
He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.
| גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃ | 7 |
He has built a wall around me so I can't escape; he has bound me with heavy chains.
| גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ | 8 |
Even when I keep on crying out for help, he refuses to listen to my prayer.
| גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃ ס | 9 |
He has put stone blocks in my way and sends me down crooked paths.
| דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י אַרְיֵה (אֲרִ֖י) בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃ | 10 |
He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,
| דְּרָכַ֥י סֹורֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃ | 11 |
He dragged me from my path and ripped me to pieces, leaving me helpless.
| דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתֹּו֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ ס | 12 |
He loaded his bow with an arrow and used me as his target,
| הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיֹותָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֹֽו׃ | 13 |
He shot me in my kidneys with his arrows.
| הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכָל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃ | 14 |
Now everyone laughs at me, singing songs that mock me all day long.
| הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרֹורִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ ס | 15 |
He has filled me with bitterness; he has filled me up with bitter wormwood.
| וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃ | 16 |
He has broken my teeth with grit; he has trampled me in the dust.
| וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁלֹ֛ום נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טֹובָֽה׃ | 17 |
Peace has been torn away from me; I've forgotten all that's good in life.
| וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתֹוחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהוָֽה׃ ס | 18 |
That's why I say, “My expectation of a long life is gone, along with all that I hoped for from Lord.
| זְכָר־עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃ | 19 |
Don't forget everything I've suffered in my wandering, as bitters as wormwood and poison.
| זָכֹ֣ור תִּזְכֹּ֔ור וְתָשִׁיחַ (וְתָשֹׁ֥וחַ) עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃ | 20 |
I certainly haven't forgotten. I remember it all too well, so I sink into depression.
| זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אֹוחִֽיל׃ ס | 21 |
But I still hope when I think about this:
| חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃ | 22 |
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.
| חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ | 23 |
He renews them every morning. How wonderfully trustworthy you are, Lord!
| חֶלְקִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אֹוחִ֥יל לֹֽו׃ ס | 24 |
The Lord is all I need,” I tell myself, “so I will put my hope in him.”
| טֹ֤וב יְהוָה֙ לְקֹוָ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃ | 25 |
The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to anyone who seeks to follow him.
| טֹ֤וב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהוָֽה׃ | 26 |
It is good to wait quietly for the Lord's salvation.
| טֹ֣וב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ ס | 27 |
It is good for people to learn to patiently bear discipline while they're still young.
| יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃ | 28 |
They should sit by themselves in silence, because it's God who has disciplined them.
| יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃ | 29 |
They should bow low with their faces to the ground, for there may still be hope.
| יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס | 30 |
They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.
| כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעֹולָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃ | 31 |
For the Lord won't abandon us forever.
| כִּ֣י אִם־הֹוגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חַסְדֹּו (חֲסָדָֽיו)׃ | 32 |
Even though he may bring sadness, he shows us mercy because his trustworthy love is so great.
| כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבֹּ֔ו וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְּנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃ ס | 33 |
For he doesn't willingly hurt people, or cause them grief.
| לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃ | 34 |
Whether it's mistreating all the prisoners of the land,
| לְהַטֹּות֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֹֽון׃ | 35 |
Or denying someone their rights as the Most High watches,
| לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיבֹ֔ו אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ ס | 36 |
Or cheating someone in their legal case—these things the Lord doesn't approve of.
| מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃ | 37 |
Who spoke and it came into existence? Wasn't it the Lord who commanded it?
| מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיֹון֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָעֹ֖ות וְהַטֹּֽוב׃ | 38 |
When the Most High speaks it can be a disaster or a blessing.
| מַה־יִּתְאֹונֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חֶטְאֹו (חֲטָאָֽיו)׃ ס | 39 |
Why should any human being complain about the results of their sins?
| נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהוָֽה׃ | 40 |
We should look at ourselves, examine what we're doing, and return to the Lord.
| נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ | 41 |
Let's not just hold up our hands to God in heaven, but our minds as well, saying,
| נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ ס | 42 |
“We are the ones who sinned; we are the ones who rebelled; and you haven't forgiven us!”
| סַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃ | 43 |
You have wrapped yourself in anger and chased us down, killing without mercy. You have killed without pity.
| סַכֹּ֤ותָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲבֹ֖ור תְּפִלָּֽה׃ | 44 |
You have wrapped yourself with a cloud that no prayer can penetrate.
| סְחִ֧י וּמָאֹ֛וס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃ ס | 45 |
You have made us waste and refuse to the nations around.
| פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כָּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ | 46 |
All our enemies open their mouths to criticize us.
| פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃ | 47 |
We're terrified and trapped, devastated and destroyed.
| פַּלְגֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ ס | 48 |
Tears stream from my eyes over the death of my people.
| עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֹֽות׃ | 49 |
My eyes overflow with tears all the time. They won't stop
| עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ | 50 |
Until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what's going on.
| עֵינִי֙ עֹֽולְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנֹ֥ות עִירִֽי׃ ס | 51 |
What I've seen torments me because of what's happened to all the women in my city.
| צֹ֥וד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפֹּ֖ור אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃ | 52 |
For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.
| צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבֹּור֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃ | 53 |
They tried to kill me by tossing me into a pit and throwing stones at me.
| צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ ס | 54 |
Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
| קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבֹּ֖ור תַּחְתִּיֹּֽות׃ | 55 |
I called out for you, Lord, from deep inside the pit.
| קֹולִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃ | 56 |
You heard me when I prayed, “Please don't ignore my cry for help.”
| קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ בְּיֹ֣ום אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃ ס | 57 |
You came to me when I called you, and you told me, “Don't be afraid!”
| רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃ | 58 |
You have taken my case and defended me; you have saved my life!
| רָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃ | 59 |
Lord, you have seen the injustices done to me; please vindicate me!
| רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כָּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ ס | 60 |
You have observed how vengeful they are and how often they've plotted against me.
| שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃ | 61 |
Lord, you have heard how they've insulted me, and what they've plotted against me,
| שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיֹונָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃ | 62 |
How my enemies talk against me and complain about me all the time!
| שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ ס | 63 |
Just look! Whether they're sitting down and or standing up, they go on making fun of me in their songs.
| תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ | 64 |
Pay them back as they deserve, Lord, for all they've done!
| תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃ | 65 |
Give them a covering for their minds! May your curse be on them!
| תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ | 66 |
Chase them down in your anger, Lord, and get rid of them from the earth!
