Revised Literal Translation

Lamentations 1

1How doth the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892sitיָשְׁבָ֣הya.she.VahH3427solitaryבָדָ֗דva.DadH910, that wasfullרַבָּ֣תִיra.Ba.tiH7227of peopleעָ֔ם'AmH5971! howis she become as a widowכְּאַלְמָנָ֑הke.'al.ma.NahH490! she that wasgreatרַּבָּ֣תִיra.Ba.tiH7227among the nationsבַגּוֹיִ֗םva.go.YimH1471, andprincessשָׂרָ֙תִי֙sa.Ra.tiH8282among the provincesבַּמְּדִינ֔וֹתba.me.di.NotH4082, howis she become tributaryלָמַֽס׃ סla.MasH4522!

2She weepethבָּכ֨וֹba.KhoH1058soreתִבְכֶּ֜הtiv.KehH1058in the nightבַּלַּ֗יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915,and her tearsוְדִמְעָתָהּ֙ve.dim.'a.TahH1832areon her cheeksלֶֽחֱיָ֔הּle.che.YahH3895:among all her loversאֹהֲבֶ֑יהָ'o.ha.Vei.haH157she hath none to comfortמְנַחֵ֖םme.na.ChemH5162her:all her friendsרֵעֶ֙יהָ֙re.'Ei.haH7453have dealt treacherouslyבָּ֣גְדוּBa.ge.duH898with her, they are become her enemiesלְאֹיְבִֽים׃ סle.'o.ye.VimH341.

3Judahיְהוּדָ֤הye.hu.DahH3063is gone into captivityגָּֽלְתָ֨הgal.TahH1540because of afflictionמֵעֹ֙נִי֙me.'O.niH6040,and because of greatוּמֵרֹ֣בu.me.RoH7230servitudeעֲבֹדָ֔ה'a.vo.DahH5656:she dwellethיָשְׁבָ֣הya.she.VahH3427among the heathenבַגּוֹיִ֔םva.go.YimH1471,she findethמָצְאָ֖הma.tze.'AhH4672no restמָנ֑וֹחַma.No.achH4494:all her persecutorsרֹדְפֶ֥יהָro.de.Fei.haH7291overtookהִשִּׂיג֖וּהָhi.si.Gu.haH5381her between the straitsהַמְּצָרִֽים׃ סha.me.tza.RimH4712.

4The waysדַּרְכֵ֨יdar.KheiH1870of Zionצִיּ֜וֹןtzi.YonH6726do mournאֲבֵל֗וֹת'a.ve.LotH57,because none comeבָּאֵ֣יba.'EiH935to the solemn feastsמוֹעֵ֔דmo.'EdH4150:all her gatesשְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙she.'a.Rei.haH8179are desolateשֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔יןsho.me.MinH8074:her priestsכֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָko.ha.Nei.haH3548sighנֶאֱנָחִ֑יםne.'e.na.ChimH584,her virginsבְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יהָbe.tu.lo.Tei.haH1330are afflictedנּוּג֖וֹתnu.GotH3013, and she isin bitternessמַר־mar-H4843.

5Her adversariesצָרֶ֤יהָtza.Rei.haH6862are the chiefלְרֹאשׁ֙le.roShH7218,her enemiesאֹיְבֶ֣יהָ'o.ye.Vei.haH341prosperשָׁל֔וּsha.LuH7951;for Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068hath afflictedהוֹגָ֖הּho.GahH3013her for the multitudeרֹב־rov-H7230of her transgressionsפְּשָׁעֶ֑יהָpe.sha.'Ei.haH6588:her childrenעוֹלָלֶ֛יהָo.la.Lei.haH5768are goneהָלְכ֥וּha.le.KhuH1980into captivityשְׁבִ֖יshe.ViH7628beforeלִפְנֵי־lif.nei-H6440the enemyצָֽר׃ סTzarH6862.

6And from the daughterמִבַּתmi.vat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֖וֹןtzi.YonH6726all her beautyהֲדָרָ֑הּha.da.RahH1926is departedוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318:her princesשָׂרֶ֗יהָsa.Rei.haH8269are become like hartsכְּאַיָּלִים֙ke.'ai.ya.LimH354thatfindמָצְא֣וּma.tze.'UH4672no pastureמִרְעֶ֔הmir.'EhH4829,and they are goneH3212without strengthכֹ֖חַKho.achH3581beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the pursuerרוֹדֵֽף׃ סro.DefH7291.

7Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םye.ru.sha.LimH3389rememberedזָֽכְרָ֣הza.khe.RahH2142in the daysיְמֵ֤יye.MeiH3117of her afflictionעָנְיָהּ֙'a.ne.YahH6040and of her miseriesוּמְרוּדֶ֔יהָu.me.ru.Dei.haH4788all her pleasant thingsמַחֲמֻדֶ֔יהָma.cha.mu.Dei.haH4262that she had in the daysמִ֣ימֵיMi.meiH3117of oldקֶ֑דֶםKe.demH6924,when her peopleעַמָּ֣הּ'a.MahH5971fellבִּנְפֹ֧לbin.FolH5307into the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of the enemyצָ֗רTzarH6862,and none did helpעוֹזֵר֙o.ZerH5826her: the adversariesצָרִ֔יםtza.RimH6862sawרָא֣וּהָra.'U.haH7200her, anddid mockשָׂחֲק֖וּsa.cha.KuH7832at her sabbathsמִשְׁבַּתֶּֽהָ׃ סmish.ba.Te.haH4868.

8Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389hath grievouslyחֵ֤טְאchet'H2399sinnedחָֽטְאָה֙cha.te.'AhH2398;therefore she is removedלְנִידָ֣הle.ni.DahH5206:all that honouredמְכַבְּדֶ֤יהָme.kha.be.Dei.haH3513her despiseהִזִּיל֙וּהָ֙hi.zi.Lu.haH2107her, because they have seenרָא֣וּra.'UH7200her nakednessעֶרְוָתָ֔הּ'er.va.TahH6172:yea, she sighethנֶאֶנְחָ֖הne.'en.ChahH584,and turnethוַתָּ֥שָׁבva.Ta.shovH7725backwardאָחֽוֹר׃ ס'a.ChorH268.

9Her filthinessטֻמְאָתָ֣הּtum.'a.TahH2932isin her skirtsבְּשׁוּלֶ֗יהָbe.shu.Lei.haH7757;she rememberethזָֽכְרָה֙za.khe.RahH2142not her last endאַחֲרִיתָ֔הּ'a.cha.ri.TahH319;therefore she came downוַתֵּ֣רֶדva.Te.redH3381wonderfullyפְּלָאִ֔יםpe.la.'ImH6382:she had no comforterמְנַחֵ֖םme.na.ChemH5162.O Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,beholdרְאֵ֤הre.'EhH7200my afflictionעָנְיִ֔י'a.ne.YiH6040:for the enemyאוֹיֵֽב׃ ס'o.YevH341hath magnifiedהִגְדִּ֖ילhig.DilH1431himself.

10The adversaryצָ֔רTzarH6862hath spread outפָּ֣רַשׂPa.rasH6566his handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027upon all her pleasant thingsמַחֲמַדֶּ֑יהָma.cha.ma.Dei.haH4261:for she hath seenרָאֲתָ֤הra.'a.TahH7200thatthe heathenגוֹיִם֙go.YimH1471enteredבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935into her sanctuaryמִקְדָּשָׁ֔הּmik.da.ShahH4720,whom thou didst commandצִוִּ֔יתָהtzi.Vi.tahH6680thatthey should not enterיָבֹ֥אוּya.Vo.'uH935into thy congregationבַקָּהָ֖לva.ka.HalH6951.

11All her peopleעַמָּ֤הּ'a.MahH5971sighנֶאֱנָחִים֙ne.'e.na.ChimH584,they seekמְבַקְּשִׁ֣יםme.va.ke.ShimH1245breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899;they have givenנָתְנ֧וּna.te.NuH5414their pleasant thingsמַחֲמַדֵּיהֶ֛םma.cha.mo.dei.hemH4262 H4261for meatבְּאֹ֖כֶלbe.'O.khelH400to relieveלְהָשִׁ֣יבle.ha.ShivH7725the soulנָ֑פֶשׁNa.feshH5315:seeרְאֵ֤הre.'EhH7200,O Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,and considerוְֽהַבִּ֔יטָהve.ha.Bi.tahH5027;for I am become vileזוֹלֵלָֽה׃ סzo.le.LahH2151.

12Is itnothing to you, all ye that passעֹ֣בְרֵיoe.reiH5674byדֶרֶךְ֒de.reKhH1870?beholdהַבִּ֣יטוּha.Bi.tuH5027,and seeוּרְא֗וּu.re.'UH7200if there beיֵ֤שׁyeshH3426any sorrowמַכְאוֹב֙makh.'OvH4341like unto my sorrowכְּמַכְאֹבִ֔יke.makh.'o.ViH4341,which is doneעוֹלַ֖לo.LalH5953unto me, wherewith Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068hath afflictedהוֹגָ֣הho.GahH3013mein the dayבְּי֖וֹםbe.YomH3117of his fierceחֲר֥וֹןcha.RonH2740angerאַפּֽוֹ׃ ס'a.PoH639.

13From aboveמִמָּר֛וֹםmi.ma.RomH4791hath he sentשָֽׁלַח־sha.lach-H7971fireאֵ֥שׁ'eshH784into my bonesבְּעַצְמֹתַ֖יbe.'atz.mo.TaiH6106,and it prevailethוַיִּרְדֶּ֑נָּהvai.yir.De.nahH7287against them: he hath spreadפָּרַ֨שׂpa.RasH6566a netרֶ֤שֶׁתRe.shetH7568for my feetלְרַגְלַי֙le.rag.LaiH7272,he hath turnedהֱשִׁיבַ֣נִיhe.shi.Va.niH7725me backאָח֔וֹר'a.ChorH268:he hath madeנְתָנַ֙נִי֙ne.ta.Na.niH5414me desolateH8074andfaintדָּוָֽה׃ סda.VahH1739all the dayהַיּ֖וֹםhai.YomH3117.

14The yokeעֹ֨ל'olH5923of my transgressionsפְּשָׁעַ֜יpe.sha.'AiH6588is boundנִשְׂקַד֩nis.KadH8244by his handבְּיָד֗וֹbe.ya.DoH3027:they are wreathedיִשְׂתָּֽרְג֛וּyis.Ta.re.GuH8276, andcome upעָל֥וּ'a.LuH5927upon my neckצַוָּארִ֖יtza.va.RiH6677:he hath made my strengthכֹּחִ֑יko.ChiH3581to fallהִכְשִׁ֣ילhikh.ShilH3782,the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136hath deliveredנְתָנַ֣נִיne.ta.Na.niH5414me into theirhandsבִּידֵ֖יbi.DeiH3027, from whomI am not ableאוּכַ֥ל'u.KhalH3201to rise upקֽוּם׃ סKumH6965.

15The Lordאֲדֹנָי֙'a.do.NaiH136hath trodden under footסִלָּ֨הsi.LahH5541all my mightyאַבִּירַ֤י׀'a.bi.RaiH47menin the midstבְּקִרְבִּ֔יbe.kir.BiH7130of me: he hath calledקָרָ֥אka.Ra'H7121an assemblyמוֹעֵ֖דmo.'EdH4150against me to crushלִשְׁבֹּ֣רlish.BorH7665my young menבַּחוּרָ֑יba.chu.RaiH970:the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136hath troddenדָּרַ֣ךְda.RakhH1869the virginלִבְתוּלַ֖תliv.tu.LatH1330,the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ סye.hu.DahH3063, asin a winepressגַּ֚תgatH1660.

16For these thingsI weepבוֹכִיָּ֗הvo.khi.YahH1058;mine eyeעֵינִ֤י׀'ei.NiH5869,mine eyeעֵינִי֙'ei.NiH5869runneth downיֹ֣רְדָהYo.re.dahH3381with waterמַּ֔יִםMa.yimH4325,because the comforterמְנַחֵ֖םme.na.ChemH5162that should relieveמֵשִׁ֣יבme.ShivH7725my soulנַפְשִׁ֑יnaf.ShiH5315is farרָחַ֥קra.ChakH7368from me: my childrenבָנַי֙va.NaiH1121are desolateשֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔יםsho.me.MimH8074,because the enemyאוֹיֵֽב׃ ס'o.YevH341prevailedגָבַ֖רga.VarH1396.

17Zionצִיּ֜וֹןtzi.YonH6726spreadeth forthפֵּֽרְשָׂ֨הpe.re.SahH6566her handsבְּיָדֶ֗יהָbe.ya.Dei.haH3027, and there isnone to comfortמְנַחֵם֙me.na.ChemH5162her: Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068hath commandedצִוָּ֧הtzi.VahH6680concerning Jacobלְיַעֲקֹ֖בle.ya.'a.KoH3290, thathis adversariesצָרָ֑יוtza.RavH6862should beround aboutסְבִיבָ֣יוse.vi.VavH5439him: Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֛םye.ru.sha.LimH3389is as a menstruous womanלְנִדָּ֖הle.ni.DahH5079among them.

18Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068is righteousצַדִּ֥יקtza.DikH6662;for I have rebelledמָרִ֑יתִיma.Ri.tiH4784against his commandmentפִ֣יהוּFi.huH6310:hearשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085,I pray you, all peopleהָֽעַמִּ֗יםha.'a.mimH5971,and beholdוּרְאוּ֙u.re.'UH7200my sorrowמַכְאֹבִ֔יmakh.'o.ViH4341:my virginsבְּתוּלֹתַ֥יbe.tu.lo.TaiH1330and my young menוּבַחוּרַ֖יu.va.chu.RaiH970are goneהָלְכ֥וּha.le.KhuH1980into captivityבַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ סva.She.viH7628.

19I calledקָרָ֤אתִיka.Ra.tiH7121for my loversלַֽמְאַהֲבַי֙lam.'a.ha.VaiH157, butthey deceivedרִמּ֔וּנִיri.Mu.niH7411me: my priestsכֹּהֲנַ֥יko.ha.NaiH3548and mine eldersוּזְקֵנַ֖יu.ze.ke.NaiH2205gave up the ghostגָּוָ֑עוּga.Va.'uH1478in the cityבָּעִ֣ירba.'IrH5892,while they soughtבִקְשׁ֥וּvik.ShuH1245their meatאֹ֙כֶל֙'o.khelH400to relieveוְיָשִׁ֖יבוּve.ya.Shi.vuH7725their soulsנַפְשָֽׁם׃ סnaf.ShamH5315.

20Beholdרְאֵ֨הre.'EhH7200,O Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068; for I amin distressH6887:my bowelsמֵעַ֣יme.'AiH4578are troubledחֳמַרְמָ֔רוּcho.mar.Ma.ruH2560;mine heartלִבִּי֙li.BiH3820is turnedנֶהְפַּ֤ךְneh.PakhH2015withinבְּקִרְבִּ֔יbe.kir.BiH7130me; for I have grievouslyמָר֖וֹma.RoH4784rebelledמָרִ֑יתִיma.Ri.tiH4784:abroadמִח֥וּץmi.ChutzH2351the swordחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719bereavethשִׁכְּלָה־shi.ke.lah-H7921,at homeבַּבַּ֥יִתba.Ba.yitH1004there isas deathכַּמָּֽוֶת׃ סka.Ma.vetH4194.

21They have heardשָׁמְע֞וּsha.me.'UH8085that I sighנֶאֱנָחָ֣הne.'e.na.ChahH584: there isnone to comfortמְנַחֵם֙me.na.ChemH5162me: all mine enemiesאֹ֨יְבַ֜י'o.ye.VaiH341have heardשָׁמְע֤וּsha.me.'UH8085of my troubleרָֽעָתִי֙ra.'a.TiH7451;they are gladשָׂ֔שׂוּSa.suH7797that thou hast doneעָשִׂ֑יתָ'a.Si.taH6213it:thou wilt bringהֵבֵ֥אתָhe.Ve.taH935the dayיוֹם־yom-H3117thatthou hast calledקָרָ֖אתָka.Ra.taH7121,and they shall be likeכָמֽוֹנִי׃ סkha.Mo.niH3644unto me.

22Let all their wickednessרָעָתָ֤םra.'a.TamH7451comeתָּבֹ֨אta.Vo'H935beforeלְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙le.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee; and doוְעוֹלֵ֣לve.'o.LelH5953unto them, as thou hast doneעוֹלַ֛לְתָּo.Lal.taH5953unto me for all my transgressionsפְּשָׁעָ֑יpe.sha.'AiH6588:for my sighsאַנְחֹתַ֖י'an.cho.TaiH585aremanyרַבּ֥וֹתra.BotH7227,and my heartוְלִבִּ֥יve.li.BiH3820isfaintדַוָּֽי׃ פda.VaiH1742.

Commentaries on Lamentations 1