God’s Anger over Jerusalem

1  אֵיכָה֩ (How) יָעִ֨יב (has covered) בְּאַפּ֤וֹ׀ (with His nose), אֲדֹנָי֙ (the Lord) אֶת־ (-)

בַּת־ (the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion)

הִשְׁלִ֤יךְ (He has cast) מִשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (from the heavens) אֶ֔רֶץ (to the earth)

תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת (the beauty) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel),

וְלֹא־ (and not) זָכַ֥ר (did He remember) הֲדֹם־ (the stool for) רַגְלָ֖יו (His feet)

בְּי֥וֹם (on the day) אַפּֽוֹ׃ס (of His anger)!

2  בִּלַּ֨ע (Has swallowed up) אֲדֹנָ֜י (the Lord) לֹא (and He has not) חָמַ֗ל (pitied); אֵ֚ת (-)

כָּל־ (all) נְא֣וֹת (the dwelling places) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob),

הָרַ֧ס (He has thrown down) בְּעֶבְרָת֛וֹ (in His wrath)

מִבְצְרֵ֥י (the fortifications) בַת־ (of the daughter) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah);

הִגִּ֣יעַ (He has made them touch) לָאָ֑רֶץ (to the ground);

חִלֵּ֥ל (and has profaned) מַמְלָכָ֖ה (the kingdom) וְשָׂרֶֽיהָ׃ס (and its princes).

3  גָּדַ֣ע (He has cut off) בָּֽחֳרִי (in the burning) אַ֗ף (of His anger)

כֹּ֚ל (every) קֶ֣רֶן (horn) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel);

הֵשִׁ֥יב (He has turned) אָח֛וֹר (back) יְמִינ֖וֹ (His right hand)

מִפְּנֵ֣י (from before) אוֹיֵ֑ב (the enemy),

וַיִּבְעַ֤ר (and He has blazed) בְּיַעֲקֹב֙ (against Jacob) כְּאֵ֣שׁ (like a fire), לֶֽהָבָ֔ה (of flame)

אָכְלָ֖ה (devouring) סָבִֽיב׃ס (all around).

4  דָּרַ֨ךְ (He has bent) קַשְׁתּ֜וֹ (His bow) כְּאוֹיֵ֗ב (like an enemy);

נִצָּ֤ב (standing) יְמִינוֹ֙ (with His right hand) כְּצָ֔ר (like an adversary),

וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֔ג (and He has slain)

כֹּ֖ל (all) מַחֲמַדֵּי־ (those desirable to) עָ֑יִן (His eye)

בְּאֹ֙הֶל֙ (on the tent) בַּת־ (of the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion);

שָׁפַ֥ךְ (He has poured out) כָּאֵ֖שׁ (like fire) חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ס (His fury).

5  הָיָ֨ה (Has been) אֲדֹנָ֤י׀ (the Lord) כְּאוֹיֵב֙ (like an enemy);

בִּלַּ֣ע (He has swallowed up) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel),

בִּלַּע֙ (has swallowed up) כָּל־ (all) אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ (her palaces),

שִׁחֵ֖ת (He has destroyed) מִבְצָרָ֑יו (her strongholds),

וַיֶּ֙רֶב֙ (and He has multiplied) בְּבַת־ (in the daughter) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah)

תַּאֲנִיָּ֖ה (mourning) וַאֲנִיָּֽה׃ס (and lamentation).

6  וַיַּחְמֹ֤ס (He has treated violently) כַּגַּן֙ (as the garden); שֻׂכּ֔וֹ (His booth),

שִׁחֵ֖ת (He has destroyed) מוֹעֲד֑וֹ (His appointed place);

שִׁכַּ֨ח (has caused to be forgotten) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (YHWH) בְּצִיּוֹן֙ (in Zion),

מוֹעֵ֣ד (the appointed time) וְשַׁבָּ֔ת (and Sabbath)

וַיִּנְאַ֥ץ (and He has spurned) בְּזַֽעַם־ (in the rage) אַפּ֖וֹ (of His anger)

מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) וְכֹהֵֽן׃ס (and priest).

7  זָנַ֨ח (Has rejected) אֲדֹנָ֤י׀ (the Lord) מִזְבְּחוֹ֙ (His altar),

נִאֵ֣ר (He has disowned) מִקְדָּשׁ֔וֹ (His sanctuary),

הִסְגִּיר֙ (He has shut up) בְּיַד־ (in the hand) אוֹיֵ֔ב (of the enemy)

חוֹמֹ֖ת (the walls) אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ (of her palaces);

ק֛וֹל (a voice) נָתְנ֥וּ (they have given forth) בְּבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH),

כְּי֥וֹם (as on the day) מוֹעֵֽד׃ס (of the appointed time).

8  חָשַׁ֨ב (Has purposed) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (YHWH) לְהַשְׁחִית֙ (to destroy)

חוֹמַ֣ת (the wall) בַּת־ (of the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion).

נָ֣טָה (He has stretched out) קָ֔ו (a line),

לֹא־ (He has not) הֵשִׁ֥יב (has He turned back) יָד֖וֹ (His hand) מִבַּלֵּ֑עַ (from destroying),

וַיַּֽאֲבֶל־ (and He has caused to lament); חֵ֥ל (the rampart) וְחוֹמָ֖ה (and wall)

יַחְדָּ֥ו (and together) אֻמְלָֽלוּ׃ס (they have languished).

9  טָבְע֤וּ (Have sunk) בָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (into the ground); שְׁעָרֶ֔יהָ (her gates)

אִבַּ֥ד (He has destroyed) וְשִׁבַּ֖ר (and broken) בְּרִיחֶ֑יהָ (her bars).

מַלְכָּ֨הּ (Her king) וְשָׂרֶ֤יהָ (and her princes are) בַגּוֹיִם֙ (among the nations);

אֵ֣ין (is no more) תּוֹרָ֔ה (the law)

גַּם־ (and) נְבִיאֶ֕יהָ (her prophets) לֹא־ (not) מָצְא֥וּ (can find)

חָז֖וֹן (vision) מֵיְהוָֽה׃ס (from YHWH).

10  יֵשְׁב֨וּ (They sit) לָאָ֤רֶץ (on the ground), יִדְּמוּ֙ (and are silent).

זִקְנֵ֣י (The elders) בַת־ (of the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion)

הֶֽעֱל֤וּ (they have thrown up) עָפָר֙ (dust) עַל־ (on) רֹאשָׁ֔ם (their heads);

חָגְר֖וּ (they have girded themselves) שַׂקִּ֑ים (with sackcloth)

הוֹרִ֤ידוּ (they have bowed) לָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (to the ground). רֹאשָׁ֔ן (Their heads)

בְּתוּלֹ֖ת (the virgins) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (of Jerusalem).

11  כָּל֨וּ (End) בַדְּמָע֤וֹת (in tears), עֵינַי֙ (my eyes)

חֳמַרְמְר֣וּ (are troubled), מֵעַ֔י (my bowels)

נִשְׁפַּ֤ךְ (is poured) לָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (to the ground), כְּבֵדִ֔י (my liver)

עַל־ (over) שֶׁ֖בֶר (the destruction) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּ֑י (of my people);

בֵּֽעָטֵ֤ף (at the fainting) עוֹלֵל֙ (of the infants) וְיוֹנֵ֔ק (and sucklings)

בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת (in the streets) קִרְיָֽה׃ס (of the city).

12  לְאִמֹּתָם֙ (To their mothers), יֹֽאמְר֔וּ (they say)

אַיֵּ֖ה (Where is) דָּגָ֣ן (the grain) וָיָ֑יִן (and wine)?

בְּהִֽתְעַטְּפָ֤ם (In their becoming feeble) כֶּֽחָלָל֙ (like a wounded one)

בִּרְחֹב֣וֹת (in the streets) עִ֔יר (of the city),

בְּהִשְׁתַּפֵּ֣ךְ (in the pouring out) נַפְשָׁ֔ם (their soul)

אֶל־ (into) חֵ֖יק (the bosom) אִמֹּתָֽם׃ס (of their mothers).

13  מָֽה־ (What) אֲעִידֵ֞ךְ (can I say about you)

מָ֣ה (to what) אֲדַמֶּה־ (shall I liken) לָּ֗ךְ (you)

הַבַּת֙ (O daughter) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem)?

מָ֤ה (What) אַשְׁוֶה־ (shall I compare) לָּךְ֙ (to you)

וַאֲנַֽחֲמֵ֔ךְ (that I might comfort you)

בְּתוּלַ֖ת (O virgin) בַּת־ (daughter) צִיּ֑וֹן (of Zion)?

כִּֽי־ (For) גָד֥וֹל (is as great) כַּיָּ֛ם (as the sea); שִׁבְרֵ֖ךְ (your brokenness)

מִ֥י (who) יִרְפָּא־ (can bring healing) לָֽךְ׃ס (to you).

14  נְבִיאַ֗יִךְ (Your prophets) חָ֤זוּ (have seen) לָךְ֙ (for you)

שָׁ֣וְא (emptiness) וְתָפֵ֔ל (and foolish things)

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) גִלּ֥וּ (have they uncovered) עַל־ (about) עֲוֺנֵ֖ךְ (your iniquity),

לְהָשִׁ֣יב (to turn back) שְׁבִיתֵךְ (your captivity);

וַיֶּ֣חֱזוּ (and they have seen) לָ֔ךְ (for you)

מַשְׂא֥וֹת (burdens) שָׁ֖וְא (of emptiness) וּמַדּוּחִֽים׃ס (and enticements).

15  סָֽפְק֨וּ (They clap) עָלַ֤יִךְ (at you) כַּפַּ֙יִם֙ (the hands)

כָּל־ (all) עֹ֣בְרֵי (those passing by) דֶ֔רֶךְ (on the way)

שָֽׁרְקוּ֙ (they hiss) וַיָּנִ֣עוּ (and shake) רֹאשָׁ֔ם (their heads)

עַל־ (over) בַּ֖ת (the daughter) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (of Jerusalem),

הֲזֹ֣את (Is this) הָעִ֗יר (the city) שֶׁיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (that they called)

כְּלִ֣ילַת (the fullness) יֹ֔פִי (of beauty),

מָשׂ֖וֹשׂ (the joy) לְכָל־ (of all) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ס (the earth)?

16  פָּצ֨וּ (They have opened) עָלַ֤יִךְ (against you) פִּיהֶם֙ (their mouth)

כָּל־ (all) א֣וֹיְבַ֔יִךְ (your enemies)

שָֽׁרְקוּ֙ (they hiss) וַיַּֽחַרְקוּ־ (and gnash) שֵׁ֔ן (the teeth).

אָמְר֖וּ (They say), בִּלָּ֑עְנוּ (We have swallowed her up);

אַ֣ךְ (surely) זֶ֥ה (this is) הַיּ֛וֹם (the day) שֶׁקִּוִּינֻ֖הוּ (we have awaited);

מָצָ֥אנוּ (we have found it), רָאִֽינוּ׃ס (we have seen).

17  עָשָׂ֨ה (Has done) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) זָמָ֗ם (He planned);

בִּצַּ֤ע (and has fulfilled) אֶמְרָתוֹ֙ (His word)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) צִוָּ֣ה (He commanded) מִֽימֵי־ (from days) קֶ֔דֶם (before).

הָרַ֖ס (He has overthrown), וְלֹ֣א (and not) חָמָ֑ל (has He spared),

וַיְשַׂמַּ֤ח (and He has made glad) עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ (over you) אוֹיֵ֔ב (the enemy)

הֵרִ֖ים (He has raised high) קֶ֥רֶן (the horn) צָרָֽיִךְ׃ס (of your adversaries).

18  צָעַ֥ק (Has cried out) לִבָּ֖ם (their heart)

אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנָ֑י (the Lord),

חוֹמַ֣ת (O wall) בַּת־ (of the daughter) צִ֠יּוֹן (of Zion),

הוֹרִ֨ידִי (let run down) כַנַּ֤חַל (like a torrent) דִּמְעָה֙ (your tears)

יוֹמָ֣ם (day) וָלַ֔יְלָה (and night);

אַֽל־ (do not) תִּתְּנִ֤י (give) פוּגַת֙ (ceasing); לָ֔ךְ (to yourself)

אַל־ (do not) תִּדֹּ֖ם (give rest). בַּת־ (To the daughter) עֵינֵֽךְ׃ס (of your eye).

19  ק֣וּמִי׀ (Arise), רֹ֣נִּי (cry out) בַלַּיִל (in the night);

לְרֹאשׁ֙ (at the beginning) אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת (of the watches)

שִׁפְכִ֤י (Pour out) כַמַּ֙יִם֙ (like waters) לִבֵּ֔ךְ (your heart)

נֹ֖כַח (before) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) אֲדֹנָ֑י (of the Lord);

שְׂאִ֧י (lift up) אֵלָ֣יו (toward Him) כַּפַּ֗יִךְ (your hands)

עַל־ (over) נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ (the soul) עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ (of your infants),

הָעֲטוּפִ֥ים (those weakened) בְּרָעָ֖ב (by hunger)

בְּרֹ֥אשׁ (in the head) כָּל־ (of every) חוּצֽוֹת׃ס (street).

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

לְמִ֖י (to whom) עוֹלַ֣לְתָּ (have You dealt) כֹּ֑ה (this way).

אִם־ (Shall) תֹּאכַ֨לְנָה (eat) נָשִׁ֤ים (women) פִּרְיָם֙ (their own fruit),

עֹלֲלֵ֣י (the infants) טִפֻּחִ֔ים (of the tender care)?

אִם־ (Shall) יֵהָרֵ֛ג (he be slain) בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ (in the sanctuary) אֲדֹנָ֖י (of the Lord)?

כֹּהֵ֥ן (Priest) וְנָבִֽיא׃ס (and prophet).

21  שָׁכְב֨וּ (There lie) לָאָ֤רֶץ (on the ground) חוּצוֹת֙ (in the streets);

נַ֣עַר (young) וְזָקֵ֔ן (and old)

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

נָפְל֣וּ (have fallen) בֶחָ֑רֶב (by the sword);

הָרַ֙גְתָּ֙ (You have slain them) בְּי֣וֹם (in the day) אַפֶּ֔ךָ (of Your anger);

טָבַ֖חְתָּ (You have slaughtered), לֹ֥א (and not) חָמָֽלְתָּ׃ס (spared).

22  תִּקְרָא֩ (You have called) כְי֨וֹם (as the day) מוֹעֵ֤ד (of an appointed time)

מְגוּרַי֙ (my terrors) מִסָּבִ֔יב (from around),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) הָיָ֛ה (did he escape) בְּי֥וֹם (on the day) אַף־ (of the anger) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH)

פָּלִ֣יט (escapee) וְשָׂרִ֑יד (or survivor);

אֲשֶׁר־ (those whom) טִפַּ֥חְתִּי (I have held) וְרִבִּ֖יתִי (and brought up)

אֹיְבִ֥י (my enemy) כִלָּֽם׃פ (has consumed them).