אֵיכָה 3

1 אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃

I, am the man, that hath seen affliction, by the rod of his indignation;

2 אוֹתִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃

Me, hath he driven out and brought into darkness, and not light;

3 אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ ס

Surely, against me, doth he again and again, turn his hand all the day.

4 בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעוֹרִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃

He hath worn out my flesh and my skin, hath broken my bones;

5 בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃

He hath built up against me, and carried round me, fortifications and a trench;

6 בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃ ס

In dark places, hath he made me sit, like the dead of age-past times.

7 גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃

He hath walled up around me, that I cannot get out, hath weighted my fetter;

8 גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃

Yea, when I make outcry and implore, he hath shut out my prayer;

9 גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃ ס

He hath walled in my ways with hewn stone, my paths, hath he caused to wind back.

10 דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י אריה בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃

A bear lying in wait, he is to me, a lion, in secret places;

11 דְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃

My ways, hath he turned aside, and hath torn me in pieces, hath made me desolate;

12 דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ ס

He hath trodden his bow, and set me up, as a mark for the arrow.

13 הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיוֹתָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃

He hath caused to enter my reins, the sons of his quiver;

14 הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכָל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

I have become a derision to all my people, their song all the day;

15 הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ ס

He hath sated me with bitter things, hath drenched me with wormwood.

16 וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃

And he hath crushed, with gravel-stones, my teeth, hath made me cower in ashes;

17 וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁל֛וֹם נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃

And thou hast thrust away from welfare, my soul, I have forgotten prosperity;

18 וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהוָֽה׃ ס

And I said, Vanished is mine endurance, even mine expectation, from Yahweh.

19 זְכָר־עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃

Remember my humiliation and my fleeings, the wormwood and poison;

20 זָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר ותשיח עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃

Thou wilt, indeed remember, that, bowed down concerning myself, is my soul;

21 זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃ ס

This, will I bring back to my heart, therefore, will I hope.

22 חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃

The lovingkindnesses of Yahweh, verily they are not exhausted, Verily! not at an end, are his compassions:

23 חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃

New things for the mornings! Abundant is thy faithfulness:

24 חֶלְקִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃ ס

My portion, is Yahweh, saith my soul, For this cause, will I wait for him.

25 ט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ לְקוָֹ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃

Good is Yahweh, to them who wait for him, to the soul that will seek him;

26 ט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהוָֽה׃

Good it is—both to wait and to be silent, for the deliverance of Yahweh;

27 ט֣וֹב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ ס

Good it is for a man, that he should bear the yoke in his youth.

28 יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃

Let him sit alone, and keep silence, because he took it upon himself:

29 יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃

Let him put, in the dust, his mouth, peradventure, there is hope!

30 יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס

Let him give, to him that smiteth him, his cheek, let him be sated with reproach.

31 כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃

Surely My Lord, will not cast off, unto times age-abiding;

32 כִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חסדו׃

Surely, though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses;

33 כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבּ֔וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃ ס

Surely he hath not afflicted from his heart, nor caused sorrow to the sons of men.

34 לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

To crush, under his feet, any of the prisoners of the earth;

35 לְהַטּוֹת֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃

To turn aside the right of a man, before the face of the Most High;

36 לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ ס

To oppress a son of earth in his cause, My Lord, hath made no provision.

37 מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃

Who was it that spake, and it was done, [when], My Lord, had not commanded?

38 מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃

Out of the mouth of the Most High, Proceed there not misfortunes and blessing?

39 מַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חטאו׃ ס

Why should a living son of earth complain, [Let] a man [complain] because of his sins?

40 נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהוָֽה׃

Let us search out our ways, and examine them well, and let us return unto Yahweh;

41 נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

Let us lift up our heart, to the opened palms, to the Mighty One in the heavens;

42 נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ ס

We, have trespassed and rebelled, Thou, hast not pardoned.

43 סַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃

Thou hast covered thyself with anger, and pursued us, hast slain—hast not spared;

44 סַכּ֤וֹתָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲב֖וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃

Thou hast screened thyself with the clouds, that prayer, should not pass through;

45 סְחִ֧י וּמָא֛וֹס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃ ס

Offscouring and refuse, dost thou make us, in the midst of the peoples.

46 פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כָּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

With their mouth, opened wide over us, [stand] all our foes.

47 פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃

Terror and a pit, have befallen us, tumult and grievous injury;

48 פַּלְגֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ ס

With streams of water, mine eye runneth down, over the grievous injury of the daughter of my people.

49 עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃

Mine eye, poureth itself out and ceaseth not, without relief;

50 עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

Until Yahweh out of the heavens shall look forth, and see,

51 עֵינִי֙ עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנ֥וֹת עִירִֽי׃ ס

Mine eye dealeth severely with my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.

52 צ֥וֹד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃

They, have laid snares, for me as a bird, who are mine enemies without cause:

53 צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃

They have cut off, in the dungeon, my life, and have cast a stone upon me;

54 צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ ס

Waters, flowed over, my head, I said, I am cut off!

55 קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃

I have called upon thy Name, O Yahweh, out of the dungeon below;

56 קוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃

My voice, thou hast heard, —do not close thine ear to my respite, to mine outcry;

57 קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃ ס

Thou drewest near, in the day I kept calling on thee, thou saidst, Do not fear!

58 רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃

Thou hast pleaded, O My Lord, the pleas of my soul, hast redeemed my life;

59 רָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃

Thou hast beheld, O Yahweh, my failure to get justice, Pronounce thou my sentence;

60 רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כָּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ ס

Thou hast seen all their vindictiveness, all their plots against me.

61 שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃

Thou hast heard their reproach, O Yahweh, all their plots against me;

62 שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

The lips of mine assailants, and their mutterings, are against me, all the day;

63 שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ ס

On their downsitting and their uprising, do thou look, I, am their song.

64 תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃

Thou wilt render to them a recompense, O Yahweh, according to the work of their hands;

65 תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃

Thou wilt suffer them a veiling of heart, thy curse to them;

66 תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ

Thou wilt pursue in anger, and wilt destroy them, from under the heavens of Yahweh.