A Lament over Zion

1  מִֽי־ (Oh, that) יִתֵּ֤ן (were) רֹאשִׁי֙ (my head) מַ֔יִם (waters),

וְעֵינִ֖י (and my eyes) מְק֣וֹר (a fountain) דִּמְעָ֑ה (of tears),

וְאֶבְכֶּה֙ (that I might weep) יוֹמָ֣ם (day) וָלַ֔יְלָה (and night) אֵ֖ת (-)

חַֽלְלֵ֥י (for the slain) בַת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּֽי׃ (of my people)!

2  מִֽי־ (Who) יִתְּנֵ֣נִי (will give me) בַמִּדְבָּ֗ר (in the wilderness) מְלוֹן֙ (a lodging place for) אֹֽרְחִ֔ים (travelers);

וְאֶֽעֶזְבָה֙ (that I might leave) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֔י (my people), וְאֵלְכָ֖ה (and depart) מֵֽאִתָּ֑ם (from them)

כִּ֤י (for) כֻלָּם֙ (they are all) מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים (adulterers),

עֲצֶ֖רֶת (an assembly) בֹּגְדִֽים׃ (of treacherous ones).

3  וַֽיַּדְרְכ֤וּ (And they bend) אֶת־ (-) לְשׁוֹנָם֙ (their tongues) קַשְׁתָּ֣ם (like their bow) שֶׁ֔קֶר (in deception);

וְלֹ֥א (and they are not) לֶאֱמוּנָ֖ה (for the truth) גָּבְר֣וּ (mighty) בָאָ֑רֶץ (on the earth);

כִּי֩ (for) מֵרָעָ֨ה (from evil) אֶל־ (to) רָעָ֧ה׀ (evil), יָצָ֛אוּ (they proceed)

וְאֹתִ֥י (Me) לֹֽא־ (and they do not) יָדָ֖עוּ (know)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

4  אִ֤ישׁ (Let each man) מֵרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ (of his neighbor), הִשָּׁמֵ֔רוּ (take heed)

וְעַל־ (and in) כָּל־ (any) אָ֖ח (brother); אַל־ (not) תִּבְטָ֑חוּ (do trust)

כִּ֤י (for) כָל־ (every) אָח֙ (brother) עָק֣וֹב (supplanting) יַעְקֹ֔ב (does supplant),

וְכָל־ (and every) רֵ֖עַ (neighbor) רָכִ֥יל (in slander) יַהֲלֹֽךְ׃ (walks).

5  וְאִ֤ישׁ (And each man) בְּרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ (his neighbor), יְהָתֵ֔לּוּ (will deceive)

וֶאֱמֶ֖ת (the truth), לֹ֣א (and not) יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ (they will speak)

לִמְּד֧וּ (they have taught) לְשׁוֹנָ֛ם (their tongue) דַּבֶּר־ (to speak) שֶׁ֖קֶר (deception),

הַעֲוֵ֥ה (to commit iniquity) נִלְאֽוּ׃ (and they weary themselves).

6  שִׁבְתְּךָ֖ (You dwell) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) מִרְמָ֑ה (of deceit);

בְּמִרְמָ֛ה (for in deceit) מֵאֲנ֥וּ (they refuse) דַֽעַת־ (to know) אוֹתִ֖י (Me)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

7  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts),

הִנְנִ֥י (Behold, I) צוֹרְפָ֖ם (am going to refine them) וּבְחַנְתִּ֑ים (and I will test them)

כִּֽי־ (for) אֵ֣יךְ (how) אֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה (shall I act)

מִפְּנֵ֖י (before the face) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּֽי׃ (of My people)?

8  חֵ֥ץ (Arrow) שׁוֹחֵט (a slaughtering); לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם (their tongue is)

מִרְמָ֣ה (deceit); דִבֵּ֑ר (speaking)

בְּפִ֗יו (with his mouth), שָׁל֤וֹם (peace) אֶת־ (to) רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ (his neighbor) יְדַבֵּ֔ר (he speaks)

וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ (and within himself) יָשִׂ֥ים (he sets) אָרְבּֽוֹ׃ (an ambush).

9  הַעַל־ (For) אֵ֥לֶּה (these things) לֹֽא־ (shall I not) אֶפְקָד־ (visit) בָּ֖ם (them)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH).

אִ֚ם (-) בְּג֣וֹי (on a nation) אֲשֶׁר־ (such) כָּזֶ֔ה (as this)?

לֹ֥א (Not) תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם (shall avenge itself) נַפְשִֽׁי׃ס (My soul).

10  עַל־ (Over) הֶ֨הָרִ֜ים (the mountains) אֶשָּׂ֧א (I will take up) בְכִ֣י (weeping) וָנֶ֗הִי (and wailing),

וְעַל־ (and over) נְא֤וֹת (the pastures) מִדְבָּר֙ (of the wilderness) קִינָ֔ה (a lamentation),

כִּ֤י (because) נִצְּתוּ֙ (they are burned up), מִבְּלִי־ (without) אִ֣ישׁ (man) עֹבֵ֔ר (passing through)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) שָׁמְע֖וּ (do they hear) ק֣וֹל (the voice) מִקְנֶ֑ה (of the cattle);

מֵע֤וֹף (from the birds) הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (of the heavens) וְעַד־ (even to) בְּהֵמָ֔ה (the beast) נָדְד֖וּ (they have fled);

הָלָֽכוּ׃ (they have gone away).

11  וְנָתַתִּ֧י (And I will make) אֶת־ (-) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (Jerusalem)

לְגַלִּ֖ים (into heaps), מְע֣וֹן (a den)

תַּנִּ֑ים (of dragons); וְאֶת־ (and) עָרֵ֧י (the cities) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah) אֶתֵּ֥ן (I will make) שְׁמָמָ֖ה (a desolation),

מִבְּלִ֖י (without) יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ס (inhabitant).

12  מִֽי־ (Who is) הָאִ֤ישׁ (the man), הֶֽחָכָם֙ (wise) וְיָבֵ֣ן (that he may understand) אֶת־ (-) זֹ֔את (this)? וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר (And whom) דִּבֶּ֧ר (has spoken), פִּֽי־ (the mouth) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) אֵלָ֖יו (unto him) וְיַגִּדָ֑הּ (that he may declare it) עַל־ (Because) מָה֙ (of what) אָבְדָ֣ה (has perished) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land) נִצְּתָ֥ה (and burned up) כַמִּדְבָּ֖ר (like a wilderness), מִבְּלִ֖י (without one) עֹבֵֽר׃ס (passing through)?

13  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (Said), יְהוָ֔ה (and YHWH) עַל־ (Because) עָזְבָם֙ (they have forsaken) אֶת־ (-) תּ֣וֹרָתִ֔י (My law) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I had set) לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם (before their face) וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁמְע֥וּ (they have listened) בְקוֹלִ֖י (to My voice), וְלֹא־ (and not) הָ֥לְכוּ (walked) בָֽהּ׃ (by it). 14  וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ (And they have walked) אַחֲרֵ֖י (after) שְׁרִר֣וּת (the stubborness) לִבָּ֑ם (of their own heart), וְאַחֲרֵי֙ (and after) הַבְּעָלִ֔ים (the Baals), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) לִמְּד֖וּם (taught them) אֲבוֹתָֽם׃ס (their fathers).

15  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); הִנְנִ֧י (Behold) מַאֲכִילָ֛ם (I will feed them) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֥ם (people), הַזֶּ֖ה (this) לַֽעֲנָ֑ה (with wormwood), וְהִשְׁקִיתִ֖ים (and give them to drink) מֵי־ (water) רֹֽאשׁ׃ (of gall). 16  וַהֲפִֽצוֹתִים֙ (And I will scatter them) בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם (among the nations), אֲשֶׁר֙ (that) לֹ֣א (neither) יָֽדְע֔וּ (have known); הֵ֖מָּה (they) וַֽאֲבוֹתָ֑ם (nor their fathers) וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י (and I will send out) אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ (after them) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֔רֶב (a sword) עַ֥ד (until) כַּלּוֹתִ֖י (I have put an end to) אוֹתָֽם׃פ (them).

17  כֹּ֤ה (Thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts),

הִתְבּֽוֹנְנ֛וּ (Consider) וְקִרְא֥וּ (and call) לַמְקוֹנְנ֖וֹת (for the wailing women), וּתְבוֹאֶ֑ינָה (that they may come);

וְאֶל־ (for) הַחֲכָמ֥וֹת (the skillful women) שִׁלְח֖וּ (and send) וְתָבֽוֹאנָה׃ (that they may come)!

18  וּתְמַהֵ֕רְנָה (And let them hurry),

וְתִשֶּׂ֥נָה (and take up) עָלֵ֖ינוּ (for us) נֶ֑הִי (a lament)

וְתֵרַ֤דְנָה (may overflow) עֵינֵ֙ינוּ֙ (that our eyes) דִּמְעָ֔ה (with tears),

וְעַפְעַפֵּ֖ינוּ (and our eyelids) יִזְּלוּ־ (flow) מָֽיִם׃ (with water).

19  כִּ֣י (For) ק֥וֹל (a voice) נְהִ֛י (of wailing)

נִשְׁמַ֥ע (is heard) מִצִּיּ֖וֹן (from Zion)

אֵ֣יךְ (How) שֻׁדָּ֑דְנוּ (devastated we are)!

בֹּ֤שְׁנֽוּ (We are ashamed), מְאֹד֙ (exceedingly)

כִּֽי־ (because) עָזַ֣בְנוּ (we have left behind) אָ֔רֶץ (the land),

כִּ֥י (because) הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ (they have thrown down) מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ס (our dwellings).

20  כִּֽי־ (Now) שְׁמַ֤עְנָה (hear) נָשִׁים֙ (O women), דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

וְתִקַּ֥ח (receive) אָזְנְכֶ֖ם (and let your⁺ ear) דְּבַר־ (the word) פִּ֑יו (of His mouth),

וְלַמֵּ֤דְנָה (and teach) בְנֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ daughters) נֶ֔הִי (a lamentation),

וְאִשָּׁ֥ה (and each woman) רְעוּתָ֖הּ (her neighbor) קִינָֽה׃ (a dirge).

21  כִּֽי־ (For) עָ֤לָה (has come up) מָ֙וֶת֙ (death) בְּחַלּוֹנֵ֔ינוּ (into our windows),

בָּ֖א (it enters) בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ (into our fortresses),

לְהַכְרִ֤ית (to cut off) עוֹלָל֙ (the child) מִח֔וּץ (from outside),

בַּחוּרִ֖ים (the young men) מֵרְחֹבֽוֹת׃ (from the squares).

22  דַּבֵּ֗ר (Speak), כֹּ֚ה (thus) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

וְנָֽפְלָה֙ (Will fall) נִבְלַ֣ת (the corpse) הָֽאָדָ֔ם (of a man) כְּדֹ֖מֶן (like dung)

עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה (of the field),

וּכְעָמִ֛יר (and like sheaves) מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י (behind) הַקֹּצֵ֖ר (the reaper),

וְאֵ֥ין (and there shall be no one) מְאַסֵּֽף׃ס (gathering).

23  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

אַל־ (Not) יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל (let glory) חָכָם֙ (the wise one) בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ (in his wisdom),

וְאַל־ (and not) יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל (let glory) הַגִּבּ֖וֹר (the mighty one) בִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹ (in his might),

אַל־ (and not) יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל (let glory) עָשִׁ֖יר (the rich one) בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃ (in his riches);

24  כִּ֣י (that) אִם־ (but) בְּזֹ֞את (in this), יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל (glory) הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל (let the one glorying)

הַשְׂכֵּל֮ (understanding) וְיָדֹ֣עַ (and knowing) אוֹתִי֒ (Me)

כִּ֚י (that) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)

עֹ֥שֶׂה (exercising) חֶ֛סֶד (loving devotion),

מִשְׁפָּ֥ט (justice), וּצְדָקָ֖ה (and righteousness), בָּאָ֑רֶץ (in the earth);

כִּֽי־ (for) בְאֵ֥לֶּה (in these things) חָפַ֖צְתִּי (I delight),

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

25  הִנֵּ֛ה (Behold), יָמִ֥ים (the days) בָּאִ֖ים (are coming), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וּפָ֣קַדְתִּ֔י (When I will visit) עַל־ (upon) כָּל־ (all) מ֖וּל (the circumcised) בְּעָרְלָֽה׃ (in the foreskin); 26  עַל־ (upon) מִצְרַ֣יִם (Egypt), וְעַל־ (and upon) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah), וְעַל־ (and upon) אֱד֞וֹם (Edom), וְעַל־ (and upon) בְּנֵ֤י (the sons) עַמּוֹן֙ (of Ammon), וְעַל־ (and upon) מוֹאָ֔ב (Moab), וְעַל֙ (and upon) כָּל־ (all) קְצוּצֵ֣י (those cutting off) פֵאָ֔ה (a corner), הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (those dwelling) בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (in the desert); כִּ֤י (for) כָל־ (all) הַגּוֹיִם֙ (the nations) עֲרֵלִ֔ים (are uncircumcised), וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) עַרְלֵי־ (are uncircumcised) לֵֽב׃ס (in the heart).