Woe to David’s City
(Luke 19:41–44)

1  ה֚וֹי (Woe) אֲרִיאֵ֣ל (to Ariel)

אֲרִיאֵ֔ל (Ariel), קִרְיַ֖ת (the city) חָנָ֣ה (encamped)! דָוִ֑ד (Where David)

סְפ֥וּ (Add) שָׁנָ֛ה (year) עַל־ (to) שָׁנָ֖ה (year);

חַגִּ֥ים (the feasts) יִנְקֹֽפוּ׃ (let come round).

2  וַהֲצִיק֖וֹתִי (And I will constrain) לַֽאֲרִיאֵ֑ל (Ariel),

וְהָיְתָ֤ה (and there will be) תַֽאֲנִיָּה֙ (mourning) וַֽאֲנִיָּ֔ה (and lamentation);

וְהָ֥יְתָה (and she will be) לִּ֖י (to Me) כַּאֲרִיאֵֽל׃ (as Ariel).

3  וְחָנִ֥יתִי (And I will encamp) כַדּ֖וּר (in a circle), עָלָ֑יִךְ (against you)

וְצַרְתִּ֤י (and I will lay siege) עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ (against you) מֻצָּ֔ב (with a siege-work),

וַהֲקִֽימֹתִ֥י (and I will raise) עָלַ֖יִךְ (against you) מְצֻרֹֽת׃ (the fortifications).

4  וְשָׁפַלְתְּ֙ (And you will be brought low),

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the ground), תְּדַבֵּ֔רִי (you will speak)

וּמֵֽעָפָ֖ר (and from the dust),

תִּשַּׁ֣ח (will be low) אִמְרָתֵ֑ךְ (Your speech)

וְֽ֠הָיָה (and will be), כְּא֤וֹב (like a spirit), מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ (from the ground), קוֹלֵ֔ךְ (Your voice) וּמֵעָפָ֖ר (and from the dust)

אִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ (your speech) תְּצַפְצֵֽף׃ (will whisper).

5  וְהָיָ֛ה (Will come to be) כְּאָבָ֥ק (like dust), דַּ֖ק (fine) הֲמ֣וֹן (the multitude) זָרָ֑יִךְ (of your foes)

וּכְמֹ֤ץ (and like chaff) עֹבֵר֙ (passing away); הֲמ֣וֹן (the multitude) עָֽרִיצִ֔ים (of the ruthless ones)

וְהָיָ֖ה (and it will be) לְפֶ֥תַע (in an instant) פִּתְאֹֽם׃ (suddenly).

6  מֵעִ֨ם (From) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts) תִּפָּקֵ֔ד (you will be visited)

בְּרַ֥עַם (with thunder), וּבְרַ֖עַשׁ (and earthquake), וְק֣וֹל (and a voice), גָּד֑וֹל (great)

סוּפָה֙ (with storm) וּסְעָרָ֔ה (and tempest), וְלַ֖הַב (and the flame) אֵ֥שׁ (of fire) אוֹכֵלָֽה׃ (devouring).

7  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass) כַּֽחֲלוֹם֙ (like a dream) חֲז֣וֹן (a vision). לַ֔יְלָה (Of night)

הֲמוֹן֙ (the multitude) כָּל־ (of all) הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (the nations) הַצֹּבְאִ֖ים (that fight) עַל־ (against) אֲרִיאֵ֑ל (Ariel),

וְכָל־ (even all) צֹבֶ֙יהָ֙ (those fighting against her) וּמְצֹ֣דָתָ֔הּ (and the siegeworks against her),

וְהַמְּצִיקִ֖ים (and those pressing) לָֽהּ׃ (on her).

8  וְהָיָ֡ה (And it will be) כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (as when) יַחֲלֹ֨ם (dreams), הָרָעֵ֜ב (the hungry one) וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), אוֹכֵ֗ל (he is eating);

וְהֵקִיץ֮ (and he awakens), וְרֵיקָ֣ה (is empty), נַפְשׁוֹ֒ (and his soul)

וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר (or as when) יַחֲלֹ֤ם (dreams), הַצָּמֵא֙ (the thirsty one) וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), שֹׁתֶ֔ה (he is drinking);

וְהֵקִיץ֙ (and he awakens), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), עָיֵ֔ף (he is faint), וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ (and his soul) שׁוֹקֵקָ֑ה (is still running about).

כֵּ֣ן (So) יִֽהְיֶ֗ה (will be), הֲמוֹן֙ (the multitude) כָּל־ (of all) הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (the nations)

הַצֹּבְאִ֖ים (coming out) עַל־ (against) הַ֥ר (Mount) צִיּֽוֹן׃ס (Zion).

9  הִתְמַהְמְה֣וּ (Pause), וּתְמָ֔הוּ (and be astonished);

הִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּ (blind yourselves), וָשֹׁ֑עוּ (and be blinded);

שָֽׁכְר֣וּ (be drunk), וְלֹא־ (not) יַ֔יִן (from wine);

נָע֖וּ (stagger), וְלֹ֥א (not) שֵׁכָֽר׃ (from strong drink).

10  כִּֽי־ (For) נָסַ֨ךְ (has poured out) עֲלֵיכֶ֤ם (on you⁺) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH)

ר֣וּחַ (a spirit) תַּרְדֵּמָ֔ה (of deep sleep),

וַיְעַצֵּ֖ם (and He has closed) אֶת־ (-) עֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ eyes), אֶת־ (-) הַנְּבִיאִ֛ים (O prophets)

וְאֶת־ (and) רָאשֵׁיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ heads), הַחֹזִ֖ים (O seers) כִּסָּֽה׃ (He has covered).

11  וַתְּהִ֨י (And has become) לָכֶ֜ם (to you⁺) חָז֣וּת (the vision) הַכֹּ֗ל (of all) כְּדִבְרֵי֮ (like the words) הַסֵּ֣פֶר (of a book) הֶֽחָתוּם֒ (that is sealed), אֲשֶֽׁר־ (which) יִתְּנ֣וּ (they give) אֹת֗וֹ (-) אֶל־ (to) יוֹדֵ֥עַ (the one knowing), הַסֵּפֶר (a book), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), קְרָ֣א (Read) נָא־ (now); זֶ֑ה (this), וְאָמַר֙ (And he says), לֹ֣א (not) אוּכַ֔ל (am I able) כִּ֥י (for) חָת֖וּם (sealed) הֽוּא׃ (it is). 12  וְנִתַּ֣ן (Is given) הַסֵּ֗פֶר (the book) עַל֩ (to) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (one who) לֹֽא־ (not) יָדַ֥ע (does know), סֵ֛פֶר (a book) לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), קְרָ֣א (Read) נָא־ (now); זֶ֑ה (this), וְאָמַ֕ר (and he says), לֹ֥א (Not) יָדַ֖עְתִּי (do I know) סֵֽפֶר׃ס (a book).

13  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And says), אֲדֹנָ֗י (YHWH)

יַ֚עַן (Because) כִּ֤י (that) נִגַּשׁ֙ (draws near) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) בְּפִ֤יו (with its mouth),

וּבִשְׂפָתָיו֙ (and with its lips) כִּבְּד֔וּנִי (honor Me)

וְלִבּ֖וֹ (and its heart) רִחַ֣ק (has grown far away) מִמֶּ֑נִּי (from Me)

וַתְּהִ֤י (and is) יִרְאָתָם֙ (their reverence) אֹתִ֔י (toward Me) מִצְוַ֥ת (a commandment) אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (by men); מְלֻמָּדָֽה׃ (taught).

14  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore), הִנְנִ֥י (behold, I) יוֹסִ֛ף (am adding) לְהַפְלִ֥יא (to do a marvellous work) אֶת־ (with) הָֽעָם־ (the people), הַזֶּ֖ה (this)

הַפְלֵ֣א (making wonders) וָפֶ֑לֶא (and by a wonder);

וְאָֽבְדָה֙ (so will perish), חָכְמַ֣ת (the wisdom) חֲכָמָ֔יו (of its wise)

וּבִינַ֥ת (and the understanding) נְבֹנָ֖יו (of its discerning) תִּסְתַּתָּֽר׃ס (will be hidden).

15  ה֛וֹי (Wo) הַמַּעֲמִיקִ֥ים (to those going deep) מֵֽיהוָ֖ה (from YHWH)

לַסְתִּ֣ר (to hide) עֵצָ֑ה (their counsel)

וְהָיָ֤ה (and are) בְמַחְשָׁךְ֙ (in darkness), מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם (their works) וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they say),

מִ֥י (Who) רֹאֵ֖נוּ (sees us) וּמִ֥י (and who) יוֹדְעֵֽנוּ׃ (knows us).

16  הַ֨פְכְּכֶ֔ם (You⁺ have turned things upside down)

אִם־ (Shall) כְּחֹ֥מֶר (like clay), הַיֹּצֵ֖ר (the potter) יֵֽחָשֵׁ֑ב (be considered)

כִּֽי־ (Shall) יֹאמַ֨ר (say) מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה (the thing made) לְעֹשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ (of the one making it)

לֹ֣א (Not)? עָשָׂ֔נִי (He did make me)

וְיֵ֛צֶר (or the thing formed) אָמַ֥ר (say) לְיוֹצְר֖וֹ (of the one forming it)

לֹ֥א (Not) הֵבִֽין׃ (He does understand).

Sanctification for the Godly

17  הֲלוֹא־ (Is it not) עוֹד֙ (yet) מְעַ֣ט (a little while), מִזְעָ֔ר (very)

וְשָׁ֥ב (that will be turned) לְבָנ֖וֹן (Lebanon) לַכַּרְמֶ֑ל (into a fruitful field),

וְהַכַּרְמֶ֖ל (and the fruitful field) לַיַּ֥עַר (a forest) יֵחָשֵֽׁב׃ (will be considered)?

18  וְשָׁמְע֧וּ (And will hear) בַיּוֹם־ (day) הַה֛וּא (in that) הַחֵרְשִׁ֖ים (the deaf) דִּבְרֵי־ (the words) סֵ֑פֶר (of a book),

וּמֵאֹ֣פֶל (and from the gloom), וּמֵחֹ֔שֶׁךְ (and from the darkness). עֵינֵ֥י (The eyes) עִוְרִ֖ים (of the blind) תִּרְאֶֽינָה׃ (will see).

19  וְיָסְפ֧וּ (And will add) עֲנָוִ֛ים (the lowly) בַּֽיהוָ֖ה (in YHWH), שִׂמְחָ֑ה (joy)

וְאֶבְיוֹנֵ֣י (and the needy) אָדָ֔ם (of mankind) בִּקְד֥וֹשׁ (in the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) יָגִֽילוּ׃ (will rejoice).

20  כִּֽי־ (For) אָפֵ֥ס (will cease), עָרִ֖יץ (the ruthless one)

וְכָ֣לָה (will disappear), לֵ֑ץ (the mocking one)

וְנִכְרְת֖וּ (will be cut down); כָּל־ (all) שֹׁ֥קְדֵי (those watching for) אָֽוֶן׃ (iniquity).

21  מַחֲטִיאֵ֤י (Those making guilty) אָדָם֙ (a man) בְּדָבָ֔ר (by a word),

וְלַמּוֹכִ֥יחַ (and for the one arguing) בַּשַּׁ֖עַר (in the gate), יְקֹשׁ֑וּן (laying a snare)

וַיַּטּ֥וּ (and stretching aside) בַתֹּ֖הוּ (in confusion) צַדִּֽיק׃ס (the right).

22  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) פָּדָ֖ה (redeemed) אֶת־ (-) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham),

לֹֽא־ (Not) עַתָּ֤ה (now) יֵבוֹשׁ֙ (be ashamed), יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (will Jacob)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) עַתָּ֖ה (now) פָּנָ֥יו (will his face) יֶחֱוָֽרוּ׃ (grow pale).

23  כִּ֣י (For) בִ֠רְאֹתוֹ (in his seeing) יְלָדָ֞יו (his children),

מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה (the work) יָדַ֛י (of My hands), בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ (in his midst)

יַקְדִּ֣ישֽׁוּ (then they will sanctify) שְׁמִ֑י (My name), וְהִקְדִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ (and they will sanctify) אֶת־ (-) קְד֣וֹשׁ (the Holy One) יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob),

וְאֶת־ (and) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) יַעֲרִֽיצוּ׃ (they will fear).

24  וְיָדְע֥וּ (And they will know) תֹֽעֵי־ (those having gone astray) ר֖וּחַ (in spirit) בִּינָ֑ה (understanding),

וְרוֹגְנִ֖ים (and those having grumbled) יִלְמְדוּ־ (will learn) לֶֽקַח׃ (instruction).