איכה 1

1 איכה ישבה בדד העיר רבתי עם היתה כאלמנה רבתי בגוים שרתי במדינות היתה למס׃

And it came to pass, after Israel was taken captive, and Jerusalem made desolate, [that] Jeremias sat weeping, and lamented [with] this lamentation over Jerusalem, and said, ALEPH. How does the city that was filled with people sit solitary! she is become as a widow: she that was magnified amongst the nations, [and] princess amongst the provinces, has become tributary.

2 בכו תבכה בלילה ודמעתה על לחיה אין לה מנחם מכל אהביה כל רעיה בגדו בה היו לה לאיבים׃

BETH. She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; and there is none of all her lovers to comfort her: all that were her friends have dealt deceitfully with her, they are become her enemies.

3 גלתה יהודה מעני ומרב עבדה היא ישבה בגוים לא מצאה מנוח כל רדפיה השיגוה בין המצרים׃

GIMEL. Judea is gone into captivity by reason of her affliction, and by reason of the abundance of her servitude: she dwells amongst the nations, she has not found rest: all her pursuers have overtaken her between her oppressors.

4 דרכי ציון אבלות מבלי באי מועד כל שעריה שוממין כהניה נאנחים בתולתיה נוגות והיא מר לה׃

DALETH. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come to the feast: all her gates are ruined: her priests groan, her virgins are led captive, and she is in bitterness in herself.

5 היו צריה לראש איביה שלו כי יהוה הוגה על רב פשעיה עולליה הלכו שבי לפני צר׃

HE. Her oppressors are become the head, and her enemies have prospered; for the Lord has afflicted her because of the multitude of her sins: her young children are gone into captivity before the face of the oppressor.

6 ויצא מן בת ציון כל הדרה היו שריה כאילים לא מצאו מרעה וילכו בלא כח לפני רודף׃

VAU. And all her beauty has been taken away from the daughter of Sion: her princes were as rams finding no pasture, and are gone [away] in weakness before the face of the pursuer.

7 זכרה ירושלם ימי עניה ומרודיה כל מחמדיה אשר היו מימי קדם בנפל עמה ביד צר ואין עוזר לה ראוה צרים שחקו על משבתה׃

ZAIN. Jerusalem remembered the days of her affliction, and her rejection; [she thought on] all her desirable things which were from the days of old, when her people fell into the hands of the oppressor, and there was none to help her: when her enemies saw [it] they laughed at her habitation.

8 חטא חטאה ירושלם על כן לנידה היתה כל מכבדיה הזילוה כי ראו ערותה גם היא נאנחה ותשב אחור׃

HETH. Jerusalem has sinned a [great] sin; therefore has she come into tribulation, all that used to honour her have afflicted her, for they have seen her shame: yes, she herself groaned, and turned backward.

9 טמאתה בשוליה לא זכרה אחריתה ותרד פלאים אין מנחם לה ראה יהוה את עניי כי הגדיל אויב׃

TETH. Her uncleanness is before her feet; she remembered not her last end; she has lowered her boasting [tone], there is none to comfort her. Behold, O Lord, my affliction: for the enemy has magnified himself.

10 ידו פרש צר על כל מחמדיה כי ראתה גוים באו מקדשה אשר צויתה לא יבאו בקהל לך׃

JOD. The oppressor has stretched out his hand on all her desirable things: for she has seen the Gentiles entering into her sanctuary, [concerning] whom you did command that they should not enter into your congregation.

11 כל עמה נאנחים מבקשים לחם נתנו מחמודיהם באכל להשיב נפש ראה יהוה והביטה כי הייתי זוללה׃

CHAPH. All her people groan, seeking bread: they have given their desirable things for meat, to restore their soul: behold, Lord, and look; for she is become dishonoured.

12 לוא אליכם כל עברי דרך הביטו וראו אם יש מכאוב כמכאבי אשר עולל לי אשר הוגה יהוה ביום חרון אפו׃

LAMED. All you that pass by the way, turn, and see if there is sorrow like to my sorrow, which has happened [to me]. The Lord who spoke by me has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13 ממרום שלח אש בעצמתי וירדנה פרש רשת לרגלי השיבני אחור נתנני שממה כל היום דוה׃

MEM. He has sent fire from his lofty habitation, he has brought it into my bones: he has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back: he has made me desolate [and] mourning all the day.

14 נשקד על פשעי בידו ישתרגו עלו על צוארי הכשיל כחי נתנני אדני בידי לא אוכל קום׃

NUN. He has watched over my sins, they are twined about my hands, they have come up on my neck: my strength has failed; for the Lord has laid pains on my hands, I shall not be able to stand.

15 סלה כל אבירי אדני בקרבי קרא עלי מועד לשבר בחורי גת דרך אדני לבתולת בת יהודה׃

SAMECH. The Lord has cut off all my strong men from the midst of me: he has summoned against me a time for crushing my choice men: the Lord has trodden a wine-press for the virgin daughter of Juda: for these things I weep.

16 על אלה אני בוכיה עיני עיני ירדה מים כי רחק ממני מנחם משיב נפשי היו בני שוממים כי גבר אויב׃

AIN. Mine eye has poured out water, because he that should comfort me, that should restore my soul, has been removed far from me: my sons have been destroyed, because the enemy has prevailed.

17 פרשה ציון בידיה אין מנחם לה צוה יהוה ליעקב סביביו צריו היתה ירושלם לנדה ביניהם׃

PHE. Sion has spread out her hand, [and] there is none to comfort her: the Lord has commanded [concerning] Jacob, his oppressors are round about him: Jerusalem has become amongst them as a removed woman.

18 צדיק הוא יהוה כי פיהו מריתי שמעו נא כל עמים וראו מכאבי בתולתי ובחורי הלכו בשבי׃

TSADE. The Lord is righteous; for I have provoked his mouth: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my grief: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 קראתי למאהבי המה רמוני כהני וזקני בעיר גועו כי בקשו אכל למו וישיבו את נפשם׃

KOPH. I called my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and my elders failed in the city; for they sought meat that they might restore their souls, and found [it] not.

20 ראה יהוה כי צר לי מעי חמרמרו נהפך לבי בקרבי כי מרו מריתי מחוץ שכלה חרב בבית כמות׃

RHECHS. Behold, O Lord; for I am afflicted: my belly is troubled, and my heart is turned within me; for I have been grievously rebellious: abroad the sword has bereaved me, even as death at home.

21 שמעו כי נאנחה אני אין מנחם לי כל איבי שמעו רעתי ששו כי אתה עשית הבאת יום קראת ויהיו כמוני׃

CHSEN. Hear, I pray you, for I groan: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard [of] mine afflictions, and rejoice because you have done [it]: you have brought on the day, you have called the time: they are become like to me.

22 תבא כל רעתם לפניך ועולל למו כאשר עוללת לי על כל פשעי כי רבות אנחתי ולבי דוי׃

THAU. Let all their wickedness come before your face; and strip them, as they have made a gleaning for all my sins: for my groans are many, and my heart is grieved.