How Lonely Lies the City!
(2 Kings 24:10–17)

1  אֵיכָ֣ה׀ (How) יָשְׁבָ֣ה (sits) בָדָ֗ד (lonely), הָעִיר֙ (the city)

רַבָּ֣תִי (once full) עָ֔ם (of people)!

הָיְתָ֖ה (She has become) כְּאַלְמָנָ֑ה (like a widow)!

רַּבָּ֣תִי (She who was great) בַגּוֹיִ֗ם (among the nations),

שָׂרָ֙תִי֙ (the princess) בַּמְּדִינ֔וֹת (of the provinces),

הָיְתָ֖ה (has become) לָמַֽס׃ס (a slave)!

2  בָּכ֨וֹ (Weeping) תִבְכֶּ֜ה (she does weep) בַּלַּ֗יְלָה (in the night),

וְדִמְעָתָהּ֙ (and her tears are) עַ֣ל (on) לֶֽחֱיָ֔הּ (her cheeks);

אֵֽין־ (there is not) לָ֥הּ (unto her) מְנַחֵ֖ם (one giving comfort)

מִכָּל־ (among all) אֹהֲבֶ֑יהָ (her lovers)

כָּל־ (all) רֵעֶ֙יהָ֙ (her companions) בָּ֣גְדוּ (have dealt treacherously) בָ֔הּ (with her)

הָ֥יוּ (they have become) לָ֖הּ (to her) לְאֹיְבִֽים׃ס (as enemies).

3  גָּֽלְתָ֨ה (Has gone into exile) יְהוּדָ֤ה (Judah) מֵעֹ֙נִי֙ (for affliction),

וּמֵרֹ֣ב (and from an abundance) עֲבֹדָ֔ה (of labor);

הִ֚יא (she) יָשְׁבָ֣ה (dwells) בַגּוֹיִ֔ם (among the nations),

לֹ֥א (no) מָצְאָ֖ה (she finds) מָנ֑וֹחַ (rest);

כָּל־ (all) רֹדְפֶ֥יהָ (her pursuers) הִשִּׂיג֖וּהָ (have overtaken her)

בֵּ֥ין (in the midst) הַמְּצָרִֽים׃ס (of distress).

4  דַּרְכֵ֨י (The paths to) צִיּ֜וֹן (Zion) אֲבֵל֗וֹת (are mourning),

מִבְּלִי֙ (no one) בָּאֵ֣י (is coming to) מוֹעֵ֔ד (the appointed times);

כָּל־ (and all) שְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ (her gates) שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין (are desolate);

כֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָ (her priests) נֶאֱנָחִ֑ים (are groaning),

בְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יהָ (her virgins) נּוּג֖וֹת (are grieving),

וְהִ֥יא (and it) מַר־ (is bitter) לָֽהּ׃ס (for her).

5  הָי֨וּ (Have become) צָרֶ֤יהָ (her adversaries) לְרֹאשׁ֙ (as the head),

אֹיְבֶ֣יהָ (and her enemies) שָׁל֔וּ (prosper);

כִּֽי־ (for) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) הוֹגָ֖הּ (has afflicted her)

עַ֣ל (because) רֹב־ (of the multitude) פְּשָׁעֶ֑יהָ (of her transgressions);

עוֹלָלֶ֛יהָ (her children) הָלְכ֥וּ (have gone) שְׁבִ֖י (into captivity)

לִפְנֵי־ (before) צָֽר׃ס (the enemy).

6  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (And it has departed); מִן־ (from) בַּת (the Daughter) צִיּ֖וֹן (of Zion)

כָּל־ (all) הֲדָרָ֑הּ (her splendor)

הָי֣וּ (have become) שָׂרֶ֗יהָ (her princes) כְּאַיָּלִים֙ (like deer)

לֹא־ (no) מָצְא֣וּ (that find) מִרְעֶ֔ה (pasture),

וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and they flee) בְלֹא־ (without) כֹ֖חַ (strength)

לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face) רוֹדֵֽף׃ס (of the pursuer).

7  זָֽכְרָ֣ה (Remembers) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (Jerusalem) יְמֵ֤י (in the days) עָנְיָהּ֙ (of her affliction) וּמְרוּדֶ֔יהָ (and her wandering)

כֹּ֚ל (all) מַחֲמֻדֶ֔יהָ (her desirable things)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הָי֖וּ (were) מִ֣ימֵי (in days) קֶ֑דֶם (before),

בִּנְפֹ֧ל (in the falling of) עַמָּ֣הּ (her people) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) צָ֗ר (of the enemy),

וְאֵ֤ין (and there was not) עוֹזֵר֙ (one giving help) לָ֔הּ (to her)

רָא֣וּהָ (saw her) צָרִ֔ים (the adversaries)

שָׂחֲק֖וּ (they have laughed) עַ֥ל (at) מִשְׁבַּתֶּֽהָ׃ס (her destruction).

8  חֵ֤טְא (A sin) חָֽטְאָה֙ (has sinned); יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem)

עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֖ן (thus) לְנִידָ֣ה (as filth); הָיָ֑תָה (she has become)

כָּֽל־ (all) מְכַבְּדֶ֤יהָ (who honored her) הִזִּיל֙וּהָ֙ (despise her)

כִּי־ (because) רָא֣וּ (they have seen) עֶרְוָתָ֔הּ (her nakedness);

גַּם־ (even), הִ֥יא (she herself) נֶאֶנְחָ֖ה (groans), וַתָּ֥שָׁב (and turns) אָחֽוֹר׃ס (away).

9  טֻמְאָתָ֣הּ (Her uncleanness is) בְּשׁוּלֶ֗יהָ (on her skirts);

לֹ֤א (not) זָֽכְרָה֙ (did she have in mind) אַחֲרִיתָ֔הּ (her end);

וַתֵּ֣רֶד (and she went down) פְּלָאִ֔ים (stunningly);

אֵ֥ין (there was no) מְנַחֵ֖ם (one giving comfort). לָ֑הּ (To her)

רְאֵ֤ה (See) יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), אֶת־ (-) עָנְיִ֔י (my affliction),

כִּ֥י (for) הִגְדִּ֖יל (has triumphed) אוֹיֵֽב׃ס (the enemy).

10  יָדוֹ֙ (His hand) פָּ֣רַשׂ (has spread) צָ֔ר (the adversary)

עַ֖ל (over) כָּל־ (all) מַחֲמַדֶּ֑יהָ (her desirable things);

כִּֽי־ (for) רָאֲתָ֤ה (she has seen) גוֹיִם֙ (the nations)

בָּ֣אוּ (come into) מִקְדָּשָׁ֔הּ (her sanctuary),

אֲשֶׁ֣ר (those whom) צִוִּ֔יתָה (You commanded) לֹא־ (not) יָבֹ֥אוּ (to enter)

בַקָּהָ֖ל (into the assembly) לָֽךְ׃ס (of Yours).

11  כָּל־ (All) עַמָּ֤הּ (her people) נֶאֱנָחִים֙ (groan),

מְבַקְּשִׁ֣ים (they seek) לֶ֔חֶם (bread);

נָתְנ֧וּ (they have given) מַחֲמוֹדֵּיהֶם (their desirable things) בְּאֹ֖כֶל (for food)

לְהָשִׁ֣יב (to restore) נָ֑פֶשׁ (the soul);

רְאֵ֤ה (See), יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה (and consider);

כִּ֥י (for) הָיִ֖יתִי (I have become) זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ס (lightly esteemed).

12  ל֣וֹא (Is it nothing) אֲלֵיכֶם֮ (to you⁺) כָּל־ (all) עֹ֣בְרֵי (passing by) דֶרֶךְ֒ (this way)?

הַבִּ֣יטוּ (Look), וּרְא֗וּ (and see)

אִם־ (if) יֵ֤שׁ (there is) מַכְאוֹב֙ (any pain) כְּמַכְאֹבִ֔י (like my pain),

אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) עוֹלַ֖ל (has been dealt) לִ֑י (to me)

אֲשֶׁר֙ (which) הוֹגָ֣ה (has inflicted) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)

בְּי֖וֹם (in the day) חֲר֥וֹן (of the burning) אַפּֽוֹ׃ס (of His anger).

13  מִמָּר֛וֹם (From on high) שָֽׁלַח־ (He has sent) אֵ֥שׁ (fire) בְּעַצְמֹתַ֖י (into my bones),

וַיִּרְדֶּ֑נָּה (and it prevails over them)

פָּרַ֨שׂ (He has spread) רֶ֤שֶׁת (a net) לְרַגְלַי֙ (for my feet),

הֱשִׁיבַ֣נִי (and has turned me) אָח֔וֹר (back);

נְתָנַ֙נִי֙ (He has made me) שֹֽׁמֵמָ֔ה (desolate)

כָּל־ (all) הַיּ֖וֹם (the day) דָּוָֽה׃ס (faint).

14  נִשְׂקַד֩ (Are bound into) עֹ֨ל (a yoke) פְּשָׁעַ֜י (My transgressions)

בְּיָד֗וֹ (by His hand); יִשְׂתָּֽרְג֛וּ (they were woven together),

עָל֥וּ (they came up) עַל־ (upon) צַוָּארִ֖י (my neck);

הִכְשִׁ֣יל (He has made fail), כֹּחִ֑י (my strength)

נְתָנַ֣נִי (has delivered me) אֲדֹנָ֔י (the Lord) בִּידֵ֖י (into hands),

לֹא־ (not) אוּכַ֥ל (I am able) קֽוּם׃ס (to rise up).

15  סִלָּ֨ה (Has rejected) כָל־ (all) אַבִּירַ֤י׀ (my mighty men) אֲדֹנָי֙ (the Lord)

בְּקִרְבִּ֔י (in my midst)

קָרָ֥א (He has proclaimed) עָלַ֛י (against me) מוֹעֵ֖ד (an appointed time)

לִשְׁבֹּ֣ר (to crush) בַּחוּרָ֑י (my young men); גַּ֚ת (as in a winepress).

דָּרַ֣ךְ (Has trodden) אֲדֹנָ֔י (the Lord)

לִבְתוּלַ֖ת (on the virgin), בַּת־ (daughter) יְהוּדָֽה׃ס (of Judah),

16  עַל־ (for) אֵ֣לֶּה׀ (these) אֲנִ֣י (I) בוֹכִיָּ֗ה (am weeping);

עֵינִ֤י׀ (My eye), עֵינִי֙ (my eye) יֹ֣רְדָה (is overflowing) מַּ֔יִם (with water),

כִּֽי־ (because) רָחַ֥ק (is far) מִמֶּ֛נִּי (from me) מְנַחֵ֖ם (one comforting)

מֵשִׁ֣יב (the restorer) נַפְשִׁ֑י (of my soul)

הָי֤וּ (have become) בָנַי֙ (my children) שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ים (desolate),

כִּ֥י (because) גָבַ֖ר (has prevailed) אוֹיֵֽב׃ס (the enemy).

17  פֵּֽרְשָׂ֨ה (Spreads out) צִיּ֜וֹן (Zion) בְּיָדֶ֗יהָ (with her hands),

אֵ֤ין (there is not) מְנַחֵם֙ (one giving comfort) לָ֔הּ (to her)

צִוָּ֧ה (has commanded) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב (concerning Jacob),

סְבִיבָ֣יו (that those around him be) צָרָ֑יו (his adversaries)

הָיְתָ֧ה (has become) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (Jerusalem)

לְנִדָּ֖ה (as an unclean thing) בֵּינֵיהֶֽם׃ס (among them).

18  צַדִּ֥יק (Righteous); ה֛וּא (He is) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH)

כִּ֣י (for) פִ֣יהוּ (His mouth); מָרִ֑יתִי (I have rebelled against)

שִׁמְעוּ־ (Hear), נָ֣א (now), כָל־ (all) עַמִּים (peoples),

וּרְאוּ֙ (and see) מַכְאֹבִ֔י (my pain);

בְּתוּלֹתַ֥י (My maidens) וּבַחוּרַ֖י (and my young men)

הָלְכ֥וּ (have gone) בַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ס (into captivity).

19  קָרָ֤אתִי (I called out) לַֽמְאַהֲבַי֙ (to my lovers),

הֵ֣מָּה (they) רִמּ֔וּנִי (deceived me)

כֹּהֲנַ֥י (my priests) וּזְקֵנַ֖י (and my elders)

בָּעִ֣יר (in the city), גָּוָ֑עוּ (died off)

כִּֽי־ (while) בִקְשׁ֥וּ (they sought) אֹ֙כֶל֙ (food) לָ֔מוֹ (for themselves)

וְיָשִׁ֖יבוּ (and to restore) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשָֽׁם׃ס (their soul).

20  רְאֵ֨ה (See), יְהוָ֤ה (O YHWH); כִּֽי־ (that) צַר־ (distress is); לִי֙ (unto me)

מֵעַ֣י (my bowels) חֳמַרְמָ֔רוּ (are troubled);

נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ (is overturned) לִבִּי֙ (My heart) בְּקִרְבִּ֔י (within me)

כִּ֥י (because) מָר֖וֹ (rebelling) מָרִ֑יתִי (have I rebelled)

מִח֥וּץ (From outside) שִׁכְּלָה־ (bereaves), חֶ֖רֶב (the sword)

בַּבַּ֥יִת (in the house) כַּמָּֽוֶת׃ס (it is like death).

21  שָׁמְע֞וּ (They have heard) כִּ֧י (that) נֶאֱנָחָ֣ה (have sighed); אָ֗נִי (I)

אֵ֤ין (there is no) מְנַחֵם֙ (one giving comfort) לִ֔י (to me)

כָּל־ (all) אֹ֨יְבַ֜י (my enemies) שָׁמְע֤וּ (have heard) רָֽעָתִי֙ (my trouble);

שָׂ֔שׂוּ (they are glad) כִּ֥י (that) אַתָּ֖ה (You) עָשִׂ֑יתָ (have done it)

הֵבֵ֥אתָ (May You bring) יוֹם־ (the day) קָרָ֖אתָ (You called for),

וְיִֽהְי֥וּ (and let them become) כָמֽוֹנִי׃ס (like me).

22  תָּבֹ֨א (Let come) כָל־ (all) רָעָתָ֤ם (their evil) לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ (before Your eyes)

וְעוֹלֵ֣ל (and deal) לָ֔מוֹ (with them)

כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עוֹלַ֛לְתָּ (You have dealt) לִ֖י (with me)

עַ֣ל (because) כָּל־ (of all) פְּשָׁעָ֑י (my transgressions);

כִּֽי־ (for) רַבּ֥וֹת (many are), אַנְחֹתַ֖י (my groans)

וְלִבִּ֥י (and my heart is) דַוָּֽי׃פ (faint).