King James Version

Lamentations 4

1How is the goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091become dimיוּעַ֣םyu.'AmH6004! howis the mostהַטּ֑וֹבha.TovH2896fine goldהַכֶּ֣תֶםha.Ke.temH3800changedיִשְׁנֶ֖אyish.Ne'H8132!the stonesאַבְנֵי־'av.nei-H68of the sanctuaryקֹ֔דֶשׁKo.deshH6944are poured outתִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙tish.ta.Pe.khe.nahH8210in the topבְּרֹ֖אשׁbe.RoshH7218of every streetחוּצֽוֹת׃ סchu.TzotH2351.

2The preciousהַיְקָרִ֔יםhay.ka.RimH3368sonsבְּנֵ֤יbe.NeiH1121of Zionצִיּוֹן֙tzi.yOnH6726,comparableהַמְסֻלָּאִ֖יםham.su.la.'ImH5537to fine goldבַּפָּ֑זba.PazH6337,how are they esteemedנֶחְשְׁבוּ֙nech.she.VuH2803as earthenחֶ֔רֶשׂChe.resH2789pitchersלְנִבְלֵי־le.niv.lei-H5035,the workמַעֲשֵׂ֖הma.'a.SehH4639of the handsיְדֵ֥יye.DeiH3027of the potterיוֹצֵֽר׃ סyo.TzerH3335!

3Even the sea monstersתַּנִּים֙ta.ninH8577draw outחָ֣לְצוּChal.tzuH2502the breastשַׁ֔דShadH7699,they give suckהֵינִ֖יקוּhei.Ni.kuH3243to their young onesגּוּרֵיהֶ֑ןgu.rei.HenH1482:the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֣י'a.MiH5971is becomecruelלְאַכְזָ֔רle.'akh.ZarH393,like the ostrichesכַּיְעֵנִ֖יםka.e.nimH3283in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ סba.mid.BarH4057.

4The tongueלְשׁ֥וֹןle.ShonH3956of the sucking childיוֹנֵ֛קyo.NekH3243cleavethדָּבַ֨קda.VakH1692to the roof of his mouthחכּ֖וֹchi.KoH2441for thirstבַּצָּמָ֑אba.tza.Ma'H6772:the young childrenעֽוֹלָלִים֙o.la.LimH5768askשָׁ֣אֲלוּSha.'a.luH7592breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899, andno man breakethפֹּרֵ֖שׂpo.ResH6566it unto them.

5They that did feedהָאֹֽכְלִים֙ha.'o.khe.LimH398delicatelyלְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔יםle.Ma.'a.da.NimH4574are desolateנָשַׁ֖מּוּna.Sha.muH8074in the streetsבַּחוּצ֑וֹתba.chu.TzotH2351:they that were brought upהָאֱמֻנִים֙ha.'e.mu.NimH539in scarletתוֹלָ֔עto.La'H8438embraceחִבְּק֖וּchi.be.KuH2263dunghillsאַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת׃ ס'ash.pa.TotH830.

6For the punishment of the iniquityעֲוֹ֣ן'a.VonH5771of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971is greaterוַיִּגְדַּל֙vai.yig.DalH1431than the punishmentמֵֽחַטַּ֖אתme.cha.TatH2403of the sin of Sodomסְדֹ֑םse.DomH5467,that was overthrownהַֽהֲפוּכָ֣הha.ha.fu.KhahH2015as in a momentרָ֔גַעRa.ga'H7281,and no handsיָדָֽיִם׃ סya.Da.yimH3027stayedחָ֥לוּCha.luH2342on her.

7Her Nazaritesנְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙ne.zi.Rei.haH5139were purerזַכּ֤וּza.KuH2141than snowמִשֶּׁ֔לֶגmi.She.legH7950,they were whiterצַח֖וּtza.ChuH6705than milkמֵחָלָ֑בme.cha.LavH2461,they were more ruddyאָ֤דְמוּ'A.de.muH119in bodyעֶ֙צֶם֙'e.tzemH6106than rubiesמִפְּנִינִ֔יםmi.pe.ni.NimH6443,their polishingגִּזְרָתָֽם׃ סgiz.ra.TamH1508wasof sapphireסַפִּ֖ירsa.PirH5601:

8Their visageתָּֽאֳרָ֔םto.'o.RamH8389is blackerחָשַׁ֤ךְcha.ShakhH2821than a coalמִשְּׁחוֹר֙mi.she.chOrH7815;they are not knownנִכְּר֖וּni.ke.RuH5234in the streetsבַּחוּצ֑וֹתba.chu.TzotH2351:their skinעוֹרָם֙o.RamH5785cleavethצָפַ֤דtza.FadH6821to their bonesעַצְמָ֔ם'atz.MamH6106;it is witheredH3001,it is become like a stickכָעֵֽץ׃ סkha.'EtzH6086.

9They that beslainחַלְלֵי־cha.lei-H2491with the swordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719are betterטוֹבִ֤יםto.VimH2896than they that beslainמֵֽחַלְלֵ֖יme.cha.LeiH2491with hungerרָעָ֑בra.'AvH7458:for theseשֶׁ֣הֵ֤םshe.HemH1992pine awayיָז֙וּבוּ֙ya.Zu.vuH2100,strickenמְדֻקָּרִ֔יםme.du.ka.RimH1856through for want ofthe fruitsמִתְּנוּבֹ֖תmi.te.nu.VotH8570of the fieldשָׂדָֽי׃ סsa.DaiH7704.

10The handsיְדֵ֗יye.DeiH3027of the pitifulרַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹתra.cha.Ma.ni.YotH7362womenנָשִׁים֙na.ShimH802have soddenבִּשְּׁל֖וּbi.she.LuH1310their own childrenיַלְדֵיהֶ֑ןyal.dei.HenH3206:they were their meatלְבָרוֹת֙le.va.rOtH1262in the destructionבְּשֶׁ֖בֶרbe.She.verH7667of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּֽי׃ ס'a.MiH5971.

11The Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath accomplishedכִּלָּ֤הki.LahH3615his furyחֲמָת֔וֹcha.ma.ToH2534;he hath poured outשָׁפַ֖ךְsha.FakhH8210his fierceחֲר֣וֹןcha.RonH2740angerאַפּ֑וֹ'a.PoH639,and hath kindledוַיַּצֶּת־vai.ya.tzet-H3341a fireאֵ֣שׁ'eshH784in Zionבְּצִיּ֔וֹןbe.tzi.YonH6726,and it hath devouredוַתֹּ֖אכַלva.To.khalH398the foundationsיְסוֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃ סye.so.do.Tei.haH3247thereof.

12The kingsמַלְכֵי־mal.khei-H4428of the earthאֶ֔רֶץ'E.retzH776,and all the inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.VeiH3427of the worldתֵבֵ֑לte.VelH8398,would not have believedהֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙he.'e.Mi.nuH539that the adversaryצַ֣רtzarH6862and the enemyוְאוֹיֵ֔בve.'o.YevH341should have enteredיָבֹא֙ya.Vo'H935into the gatesבְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖יbe.sha.'a.ReiH8179of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סye.ru.sha.LimH3389.

13For the sinsמֵֽחַטֹּ֣אתme.cha.TotH2403of her prophetsנְבִיאֶ֔יהָne.vi.'Ei.haH5030, andthe iniquitiesעֲוֹנ֖וֹתa.vo.NotH5771of her priestsכֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָko.ha.Nei.haH3548,that have shedהַשֹּׁפְכִ֥יםha.sho.fe.KhimH8210the bloodדַּ֥םdamH1818of the justצַדִּיקִֽים׃ סtza.di.KimH6662in the midstבְּקִרְבָּ֖הּbe.kir.BahH7130of her,

14They have wanderedנָע֤וּna.'UH5128asblindעִוְרִים֙'iv.RimH5787menin the streetsבַּֽחוּצ֔וֹתba.chu.TzotH2351,they have pollutedנְגֹֽאֲל֖וּne.go.'a.LuH1351themselves with bloodבַּדָּ֑םba.DamH1818,so that men couldיֽוּכְל֔וּyu.khe.LuH3201notבְּלֹ֣אbe.Lo'H3808touchיִגְּע֖וּyi.ge.'UH5060their garmentsבִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ סbil.vu.shei.HemH3830.

15They criedקָ֣רְאוּKa.re.'uH7121unto them, Departס֣וּרוּSu.ruH5493ye; it isuncleanטָמֵ֞אta.Me'H2931;departס֤וּרוּSu.ruH5493,departס֙וּרוּ֙su.ruH5493,touchתִּגָּ֔עוּti.Ga.'uH5060not: when they fled awayנָצ֖וּna.TzuH5132and wanderedנָ֑עוּNa.'uH5128,they saidאָֽמְרוּ֙'a.me.RuH559among the heathenבַּגּוֹיִ֔םba.go.YimH1471,They shall no moreיוֹסִ֖יפוּyo.Si.fuH3254sojournלָגֽוּר׃ סla.GurH1481there.

16The angerפְּנֵ֤יpe.NeiH6440of the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath dividedחִלְּקָ֔םchi.le.KamH2505them; he will no moreיוֹסִ֖יףyo.SifH3254regardלְהַבִּיטָ֑םle.ha.bi.TamH5027them: they respectedנָשָׂ֔אוּna.Sa.'uH5375not the personsפְּנֵ֤יpe.NeiH6440of the priestsכֹהֲנִים֙kho.ha.NimH3548,they favouredחָנָֽנוּ׃ סcha.Na.nuH2603not the eldersוּזְקֵנִ֖יםvu.ze.ke.nimH2205.

17As for us, our eyesעֵינֵ֔ינוּ'ei.Nei.nuH5869as yet failedתִּכְלֶ֣ינָהtikh.Lei.nahH3615for our vainהָ֑בֶלHa.velH1892helpעֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ'ez.ra.Te.nuH5833:in our watchingבְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּbe.tzi.pi.ya.Te.nuH6836we have watchedצִפִּ֔ינוּtzi.Pi.nuH6822for a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471thatcould not saveיוֹשִֽׁעַ׃ סyo.Shi.a'H3467us.

18They huntצָד֣וּtza.DuH6679our stepsצְעָדֵ֔ינוּtze.'a.Dei.nuH6806,that we cannot goH3212in our streetsבִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּbir.cho.Tei.nuH7339:our endקִצֵּ֛ינוּki.Tzei.nuH7093is nearקָרַ֥בka.RavH7126,our daysיָמֵ֖ינוּya.Mei.nuH3117are fulfilledמָלְא֥וּmal.'UH4390;for our endקִצֵּֽינוּ׃ סki.Tzei.nuH7093is comeבָ֥אva'H935.

19Our persecutorsרֹדְפֵ֔ינוּro.de.Fei.nuH7291are swifterקַלִּ֤יםka.LimH7031than the eaglesמִנִּשְׁרֵ֖יmi.nish.ReiH5404of the heavenשָׁמָ֑יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064:they pursuedדְּלָקֻ֔נוּde.la.Ku.nuH1814us upon the mountainsהֶהָרִ֣יםhe.ha.RimH2022,they laid waitאָ֥רְבוּ'A.re.vuH693for us in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֖רba.mid.BarH4057.

20The breathר֤וּחַRu.achH7307of our nostrilsאַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙'a.Pei.nuH639,the anointedמְשִׁ֣יחַme.Shi.achH4899of the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,was takenנִלְכַּ֖דnil.KadH3920in their pitsבִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑םbish.chi.to.TamH7825,of whom we saidאָמַ֔רְנוּ'a.Mar.nuH559,Under his shadowבְּצִלּ֖וֹbe.tzi.LoH6738we shall liveנִֽחְיֶ֥הnich.YehH2421among the heathenבַגּוֹיִֽם׃ סva.go.YimH1471.

21Rejoiceשִׂ֤ישִׂיSi.siH7797and be gladוְשִׂמְחִי֙ve.sim.ChiH8055,O daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Edomאֱד֔וֹם'e.DomH123,that dwellestיוֹשֶׁ֖בֶתyo.shav.tiH3427in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Uzע֑וּץ'UtzH5780;the cupכּ֔וֹסKosH3563also shall passתַּעֲבָר־ta.'a.vor-H5674through unto thee: thou shalt be drunkenתִּשְׁכְּרִ֖יtish.ke.RiH7937,and shalt make thyself nakedוְתִתְעָרִֽי׃ סve.tit.'a.RiH6168.

22The punishment of thine iniquityעֲוֹנֵךְ֙'a.vo.neKhH5771is accomplishedתַּם־tam-H8552,O daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726;he will no moreיוֹסִ֖יףyo.SifH3254carry thee away into captivityלְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְle.hag.lo.TekhH1540:he will visitפָּקַ֤דpa.KadH6485thine iniquityעֲוֹנֵךְ֙'a.vo.neKhH5771,O daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Edomאֱד֔וֹם'e.DomH123;he will discoverגִּלָּ֖הgi.LahH1540thy sinsחַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ׃ פcha.to.Ta.yikhH2403.

Commentaries on Lamentations 4

King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)