Berean Standard Bible

Lamentations 4

1Howאֵיכָה֙'ei.KhahH349the goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091has become tarnishedיוּעַ֣םyu.'AmH6004,the pureהַטּ֑וֹבha.TovH2896goldהַכֶּ֣תֶםha.Ke.temH3800has become dullיִשְׁנֶ֖אyish.Ne'H8132!The gemsאַבְנֵי־'av.nei-H68of the templeקֹ֔דֶשׁKo.deshH6944lie scatteredתִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙tish.ta.Pe.khe.nahH8210on everyכָּל־kol-H3605streetחוּצֽוֹת׃ סchu.TzotH2351cornerבְּרֹ֖אשׁbe.RoshH7218.

2Howאֵיכָ֤ה'ei.KhahH349the preciousהַיְקָרִ֔יםhay.ka.RimH3368sonsבְּנֵ֤יbe.NeiH1121of Zionצִיּוֹן֙tzi.yOnH6726,once worth their weightהַמְסֻלָּאִ֖יםham.su.la.'ImH5537in pure goldבַּפָּ֑זba.PazH6337,are now esteemedנֶחְשְׁבוּ֙nech.she.VuH2803as jarsלְנִבְלֵי־le.niv.lei-H5035of clayחֶ֔רֶשׂChe.resH2789,the workמַעֲשֵׂ֖הma.'a.SehH4639of a potter’sיוֹצֵֽר׃ סyo.TzerH3335handsיְדֵ֥יye.DeiH3027!

3Evenגַּם־gam-H1571jackalsתַּנִּים֙ta.ninH8577offerחָ֣לְצוּChal.tzuH2502their breastsשַׁ֔דShadH7699to nurseהֵינִ֖יקוּhei.Ni.kuH3243their youngגּוּרֵיהֶ֑ןgu.rei.HenH1482, butthe daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֣י'a.MiH5971has become cruelלְאַכְזָ֔רle.'akh.ZarH393,likeH3588an ostrichכַּיְעֵנִ֖יםka.e.nimH3283in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ סba.mid.BarH4057.

4The nursing infant’sיוֹנֵ֛קyo.NekH3243tongueלְשׁ֥וֹןle.ShonH3956clingsדָּבַ֨קda.VakH1692in thirstבַּצָּמָ֑אba.tza.Ma'H6772toאֶל־'el-H413the roof of his mouthחכּ֖וֹchi.KoH2441.Little childrenעֽוֹלָלִים֙o.la.LimH5768beg forשָׁ֣אֲלוּSha.'a.luH7592breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899,but noאֵ֥ין'einH369one gives them anyפֹּרֵ֖שׂpo.ResH6566.

5Those who once ateהָאֹֽכְלִים֙ha.'o.khe.LimH398delicaciesלְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔יםle.Ma.'a.da.NimH4574are destituteנָשַׁ֖מּוּna.Sha.muH8074in the streetsבַּחוּצ֑וֹתba.chu.TzotH2351;those brought upהָאֱמֻנִים֙ha.'e.mu.NimH539inעֲלֵ֣י'a.LeiH5921crimsonתוֹלָ֔עto.La'H8438huddleחִבְּק֖וּchi.be.KuH2263in ash heapsאַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת׃ ס'ash.pa.TotH830.

6The punishmentעֲוֹ֣ן'a.VonH5771of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971is greaterוַיִּגְדַּל֙vai.yig.DalH1431thanמֵֽחַטַּ֖אתme.cha.TatH2403thatof Sodomסְדֹ֑םse.DomH5467,which was overthrownהַֽהֲפוּכָ֣הha.ha.fu.KhahH2015inכְמוֹ־khe.mov-H3644an instantרָ֔גַעRa.ga'H7281withoutוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808a handיָדָֽיִם׃ סya.Da.yimH3027turned to helpחָ֥לוּCha.luH2342her.

7Her dignitariesנְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙ne.zi.Rei.haH5139were brighterזַכּ֤וּza.KuH2141than snowמִשֶּׁ֔לֶגmi.She.legH7950,whiterצַח֖וּtza.ChuH6705than milkמֵחָלָ֑בme.cha.LavH2461;their bodiesעֶ֙צֶם֙'e.tzemH6106were more ruddyאָ֤דְמוּ'A.de.muH119than rubiesמִפְּנִינִ֔יםmi.pe.ni.NimH6443,their appearanceגִּזְרָתָֽם׃ סgiz.ra.TamH1508like sapphiresסַפִּ֖ירsa.PirH5601.

8But now their appearanceתָּֽאֳרָ֔םto.'o.RamH8389is blackerחָשַׁ֤ךְcha.ShakhH2821than sootמִשְּׁחוֹר֙mi.she.chOrH7815;they are notלֹ֥אlo'H3808recognizedנִכְּר֖וּni.ke.RuH5234in the streetsבַּחוּצ֑וֹתba.chu.TzotH2351.Their skinעוֹרָם֙o.RamH5785has shriveledצָפַ֤דtza.FadH6821onעַל־'al-H5921their bonesעַצְמָ֔ם'atz.MamH6106;it has becomeהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961as dryH3001as a stickכָעֵֽץ׃ סkha.'EtzH6086.

9Those slainחַלְלֵי־cha.lei-H2491by the swordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719areהָיוּ֙ha.YuH1961better offטוֹבִ֤יםto.VimH2896than those who dieמֵֽחַלְלֵ֖יme.cha.LeiH2491of hungerרָעָ֑בra.'AvH7458,whoשֶׁ֣הֵ֤םshe.HemH1992waste awayיָז֙וּבוּ֙ya.Zu.vuH2100,pierced with painמְדֻקָּרִ֔יםme.du.ka.RimH1856because the fieldsשָׂדָֽי׃ סsa.DaiH7704lack produceמִתְּנוּבֹ֖תmi.te.nu.VotH8570.

10The handsיְדֵ֗יye.DeiH3027of compassionateרַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹתra.cha.Ma.ni.YotH7362womenנָשִׁים֙na.ShimH802have cookedבִּשְּׁל֖וּbi.she.LuH1310their own childrenיַלְדֵיהֶ֑ןyal.dei.HenH3206,who becameהָי֤וּha.YuH1961their foodלְבָרוֹת֙le.va.rOtH1262in the destructionבְּשֶׁ֖בֶרbe.She.verH7667of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּֽי׃ ס'a.MiH5971.

11The LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068אֶת־'et-H853has exhaustedכִּלָּ֤הki.LahH3615His wrathחֲמָת֔וֹcha.ma.ToH2534;He has poured outשָׁפַ֖ךְsha.FakhH8210His fierceחֲר֣וֹןcha.RonH2740angerאַפּ֑וֹ'a.PoH639;He has kindledוַיַּצֶּת־vai.ya.tzet-H3341a fireאֵ֣שׁ'eshH784in Zionבְּצִיּ֔וֹןbe.tzi.YonH6726,and it has consumedוַתֹּ֖אכַלva.To.khalH398her foundationsיְסוֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃ סye.so.do.Tei.haH3247.

12The kingsמַלְכֵי־mal.khei-H4428of the earthאֶ֔רֶץ'E.retzH776did notלֹ֤אlo'H3808believeהֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙he.'e.Mi.nuH539,nor anyכֹּ֖לkholH3605peopleיֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.VeiH3427of the worldתֵבֵ֑לte.VelH8398,thatכִּ֤יkiH3588an enemyצַ֣רtzarH6862or a foeוְאוֹיֵ֔בve.'o.YevH341could enterיָבֹא֙ya.Vo'H935the gatesבְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖יbe.sha.'a.ReiH8179of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סye.ru.sha.LimH3389.

13But this wasfor the sinsמֵֽחַטֹּ֣אתme.cha.TotH2403of her prophetsנְבִיאֶ֔יהָne.vi.'Ei.haH5030and the guiltעֲוֹנ֖וֹתa.vo.NotH5771of her priestsכֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָko.ha.Nei.haH3548,who shedהַשֹּׁפְכִ֥יםha.sho.fe.KhimH8210the bloodדַּ֥םdamH1818of the righteousצַדִּיקִֽים׃ סtza.di.KimH6662in her midstבְּקִרְבָּ֖הּbe.kir.BahH7130.

14They wanderedנָע֤וּna.'UH5128blindעִוְרִים֙'iv.RimH5787in the streetsבַּֽחוּצ֔וֹתba.chu.TzotH2351,defiledנְגֹֽאֲל֖וּne.go.'a.LuH1351by this bloodבַּדָּ֑םba.DamH1818,so that noבְּלֹ֣אbe.Lo'H3808one daredיֽוּכְל֔וּyu.khe.LuH3201to touchיִגְּע֖וּyi.ge.'UH5060their garmentsבִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ סbil.vu.shei.HemH3830.

15“Go awayס֣וּרוּSu.ruH5493!Uncleanטָמֵ֞אta.Me'H2931!”men shoutedקָ֣רְאוּKa.re.'uH7121at them. “Awayס֤וּרוּSu.ruH5493,awayס֙וּרוּ֙su.ruH5493!Do notאַל־'al-H408touch usתִּגָּ֔עוּti.Ga.'uH5060!”Soכִּ֥יkiH3588they fledנָצ֖וּna.TzuH5132andגַּם־gam-H1571wanderedנָ֑עוּNa.'uH5128.Among the nationsבַּגּוֹיִ֔םba.go.YimH1471it was saidאָֽמְרוּ֙'a.me.RuH559, “They can stayלָגֽוּר׃ סla.GurH1481here noלֹ֥אlo'H3808longerיוֹסִ֖יפוּyo.Si.fuH3254.”

16The presenceפְּנֵ֤יpe.NeiH6440of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068has scattered themחִלְּקָ֔םchi.le.KamH2505;He regards themלְהַבִּיטָ֑םle.ha.bi.TamH5027noלֹ֥אlo'H3808moreיוֹסִ֖יףyo.SifH3254.The priestsכֹהֲנִים֙kho.ha.NimH3548are shown no honorפְּנֵ֤י לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔אוּpe.Nei lo' na.Sa.'uH3808 H6440 H5375;the eldersוּזְקֵנִ֖יםvu.ze.ke.nimH2205find noלֹ֥אlo'H3808favorחָנָֽנוּ׃ סcha.Na.nuH2603.

17All the whileעוֹדֵ֙ינוּ֙o.dei.nuH5750our eyesעֵינֵ֔ינוּ'ei.Nei.nuH5869were failingתִּכְלֶ֣ינָהtikh.Lei.nahH3615as we looked in vainהָ֑בֶלHa.velH1892forאֶל־'el-H413helpעֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ'ez.ra.Te.nuH5833.We watchedבְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּbe.tzi.pi.ya.Te.nuH6836from our towersצִפִּ֔ינוּtzi.Pi.nuH6822forאֶל־'el-H413a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471thatcould notלֹ֥אlo'H3808save usיוֹשִֽׁעַ׃ סyo.Shi.a'H3467.

18They stalkedצָד֣וּtza.DuH6679our every stepצְעָדֵ֔ינוּtze.'a.Dei.nuH6806,so that we could not walkמִלֶּ֖כֶתmi.Le.khetH1980in our streetsבִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּbir.cho.Tei.nuH7339.Our endקִצֵּ֛ינוּki.Tzei.nuH7093drew nearקָרַ֥בka.RavH7126,our timeיָמֵ֖ינוּ כִּי־ya.Mei.nu ki-H3117 H3588ran outמָלְא֥וּmal.'UH4390,for our endקִצֵּֽינוּ׃ סki.Tzei.nuH7093had comeבָ֥אva'H935!

19Those who chased usרֹדְפֵ֔ינוּro.de.Fei.nuH7291wereהָיוּ֙ha.YuH1961swifterקַלִּ֤יםka.LimH7031than the eaglesמִנִּשְׁרֵ֖יmi.nish.ReiH5404in the skyשָׁמָ֑יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064;they pursued usדְּלָקֻ֔נוּde.la.Ku.nuH1814overעַל־'al-H5921the mountainsהֶהָרִ֣יםhe.ha.RimH2022and ambushedאָ֥רְבוּ'A.re.vuH693usin the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֖רba.mid.BarH4057.

20The LORD’sיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068anointedמְשִׁ֣יחַme.Shi.achH4899,the breathר֤וּחַRu.achH7307of our lifeאַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙'a.Pei.nuH639,was capturedנִלְכַּ֖דnil.KadH3920in their pitsבִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑םbish.chi.to.TamH7825.We had saidאָמַ֔רְנוּ'a.Mar.nuH559of himאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834, “Under his shadowבְּצִלּ֖וֹbe.tzi.LoH6738we will liveנִֽחְיֶ֥הnich.YehH2421among the nationsבַגּוֹיִֽם׃ סva.go.YimH1471.”

21So rejoiceשִׂ֤ישִׂיSi.siH7797and be gladוְשִׂמְחִי֙ve.sim.ChiH8055,O Daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Edomאֱד֔וֹם'e.DomH123, youwho dwellיוֹשֶׁ֖בֶתyo.shav.tiH3427in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Uzע֑וּץ'UtzH5780.Yet the cupכּ֔וֹסKosH3563will passתַּעֲבָר־ta.'a.vor-H5674toעָלַ֙יִךְ֙'a.La.yikhH5921you as wellגַּם־gam-H1571;you will get drunkתִּשְׁכְּרִ֖יtish.ke.RiH7937and expose yourselfוְתִתְעָרִֽי׃ סve.tit.'a.RiH6168.

22O Daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726,your punishmentעֲוֹנֵךְ֙'a.vo.neKhH5771is completeתַּם־tam-H8552;He will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808prolongיוֹסִ֖יףyo.SifH3254your exileלְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְle.hag.lo.TekhH1540.But He will punishפָּקַ֤דpa.KadH6485your iniquityעֲוֹנֵךְ֙'a.vo.neKhH5771,O Daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Edomאֱד֔וֹם'e.DomH123;He will exposeגִּלָּ֖ה עַל־gi.Lah 'al-H1540 H5921your sinsחַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ׃ פcha.to.Ta.yikhH2403.

Commentaries on Lamentations 4