Revised Literal Translation

Lamentations 2

1How hath the Lordאֲדֹנָי֙'a.do.NaiH136coveredH5743the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726with a cloudH5743in his angerבְּאַפּ֤וֹ׀be.'a.PoH639, andcast downהִשְׁלִ֤יךְhish.LikhH7993from heavenמִשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙mi.sha.Ma.yimH8064unto the earthאֶ֔רֶץ'E.retzH776the beautyתִּפְאֶ֖רֶתtif.'E.retH8597of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and rememberedזָכַ֥רza.KharH2142not his footstoolהֲדֹם־ רַגְלָ֖יוha.dom- rag.LavH7272 H1916in the dayבְּי֥וֹםbe.YomH3117of his angerאַפּֽוֹ׃ ס'a.PoH639!

2The Lordאֲדֹנָ֜י'a.do.NaiH136hath swallowed upבִּלַּ֨עbi.La'H1104all the habitationsנְא֣וֹתne.'otH4999of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and hath not pitiedחָמַ֗לcha.MalH2550:he hath thrown downהָרַ֧סha.RasH2040in his wrathבְּעֶבְרָת֛וֹbe.'ev.ra.ToH5678the strong holdsמִבְצְרֵ֥יmiv.tze.ReiH4013of the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063; he hath brought themdownהִגִּ֣יעַhi.Gi.a'H5060to the groundלָאָ֑רֶץla.'A.retzH776:he hath pollutedחִלֵּ֥לchi.LelH2490the kingdomמַמְלָכָ֖הmam.la.KhahH4467and the princesוְשָׂרֶֽיהָ׃ סve.sa.Rei.haH8269thereof.

3He hath cut offגָּדַ֣עga.Da'H1438in hisfierceבָּֽחֳרִיbo.cho.ri-H2750angerאַ֗ף'AfH639all the hornקֶ֣רֶןKe.renH7161of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478:he hath drawnהֵשִׁ֥יבhe.ShivH7725backאָח֛וֹר'a.ChorH268his right handיְמִינ֖וֹye.mi.NoH3225from beforeמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440the enemyאוֹיֵ֑ב'o.YevH341,and he burnedוַיִּבְעַ֤רvai.yiv.'ArH1197against Jacobבְּיַעֲקֹב֙be.ya.'a.KoH3290like a flamingלֶֽהָבָ֔הle.ha.VahH3852fireכְּאֵ֣שׁke.'EshH784, whichdevourethאָכְלָ֖ה'a.khe.LahH398round aboutסָבִֽיב׃ סsa.VivH5439.

4He hath bentדָּרַ֨ךְda.RakhH1869his bowקַשְׁתּ֜וֹkash.ToH7198like an enemyכְּאוֹיֵ֗בke.'o.YevH341:he stoodנִצָּ֤בni.TzavH5324with his right handיְמִינוֹ֙ye.mi.NoH3225as an adversaryכְּצָ֔רke.TzarH6862,and slewוַֽיַּהֲרֹ֔גvai.ya.ha.RogH2026all that werepleasantמַחֲמַדֵּי־ma.cha.ma.dei-H4261to the eyeעָ֑יִן'A.yinH5869in the tabernacleבְּאֹ֙הֶל֙be.'O.helH168of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726:he poured outשָׁפַ֥ךְsha.FakhH8210his furyחֲמָתֽוֹ׃ סcha.ma.ToH2534like fireכָּאֵ֖שׁka.'EshH784.

5The Lordאֲדֹנָ֤י׀'a.do.NaiH136was as an enemyכְּאוֹיֵב֙ke.'o.YevH341:he hath swallowed upבִּלַּ֣עbi.La'H1104Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,he hath swallowed upבִּלַּע֙bi.La'H1104all her palacesאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ'ar.me.no.Tei.haH759:he hath destroyedשִׁחֵ֖תshi.ChetH7843his strong holdsמִבְצָרָ֑יוmiv.tza.RavH4013,and hath increasedוַיֶּ֙רֶב֙vai.Ye.revH7235in the daughterבְּבַת־be.vat-H1323of Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063mourningתַּאֲנִיָּ֖הta.'a.ni.YahH8386and lamentationוַאֲנִיָּֽה׃ סva.'a.ni.YahH592.

6And he hath violently taken awayוַיַּחְמֹ֤סvai.yach.MosH2554his tabernacleשֻׂכּ֔וֹsu.KoH7900, as if it were ofa gardenכַּגַּן֙ka.GanH1588:he hath destroyedשִׁחֵ֖תshi.ChetH7843his places of the assemblyמוֹעֲד֑וֹmo.'a.DoH4150:Yhwhיְהוָ֤ה׀Yah.wehH3068hath caused the solemn feastsמוֹעֵ֣דmo.'EdH4150and sabbathsוְשַׁבָּ֔תve.sha.BatH7676to be forgottenשִׁכַּ֨חshi.KachH7911in Zionבְּצִיּוֹן֙be.tzi.yOnH6726,and hath despisedוַיִּנְאַ֥ץvai.yin.'AtzH5006in the indignationבְּזַֽעַם־be.za.'am-H2195of his angerאַפּ֖וֹ'a.PoH639the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428and the priestוְכֹהֵֽן׃ סve.kho.HenH3548.

7The Lordאֲדֹנָ֤י׀'a.do.NaiH136hath cast offזָנַ֨חza.NachH2186his altarמִזְבְּחוֹ֙miz.be.ChoH4196,he hath abhorredנִאֵ֣רni.'ErH5010his sanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁ֔וֹmik.da.ShoH4720,he hath given upהִסְגִּיר֙his.GirH5462into the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of the enemyאוֹיֵ֔ב'o.YevH341the wallsחוֹמֹ֖תcho.MotH2346of her palacesאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ'ar.me.no.Tei.haH759;they have madeנָתְנ֥וּna.te.NuH5414a noiseק֛וֹלKolH6963in the houseבְּבֵית־be.veit-H1004of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,as in the dayכְּי֥וֹםke.YomH3117of a solemn feastמוֹעֵֽד׃ סmo.'EdH4150.

8Yhwhיְהוָ֤ה׀Yah.wehH3068hath purposedחָשַׁ֨בcha.ShavH2803to destroyלְהַשְׁחִית֙le.hash.ChitH7843the wallחוֹמַ֣תcho.MatH2346of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726:he hath stretched outנָ֣טָהNa.tahH5186a lineקָ֔וKavH6957,he hath not withdrawnהֵשִׁ֥יבhe.ShivH7725his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027from destroyingמִבַּלֵּ֑עַmi.ba.Le.a'H1104:therefore he made the rampartחֵ֥לchelH2426and the wallוְחוֹמָ֖הve.cho.MahH2346to lamentוַיַּֽאֲבֶל־vai.ya.'a.vel-H56;they languishedאֻמְלָֽלוּ׃ ס'um.La.luH535togetherיַחְדָּ֥וyach.DavH3162.

9Her gatesשְׁעָרֶ֔יהָshe.'a.Rei.haH8179are sunkטָבְע֤וּta.ve.'UH2883into the groundבָאָ֙רֶץ֙va.'A.retzH776;he hath destroyedאִבַּ֥ד'i.BadH6and brokenוְשִׁבַּ֖רve.shi.BarH7665her barsבְּרִיחֶ֑יהָbe.ri.Chei.haH1280:her kingמַלְכָּ֨הּmal.KahH4428and her princesוְשָׂרֶ֤יהָve.sa.Rei.haH8269areamong the Gentilesבַגּוֹיִם֙va.go.YimH1471:the lawתּוֹרָ֔הto.RahH8451is no more;her prophetsנְבִיאֶ֕יהָne.vi.'Ei.haH5030also findמָצְא֥וּma.tze.'UH4672no visionחָז֖וֹןcha.ZonH2377from Yhwhמֵיְהוָֽה׃ סme.Yah.wehH3068.

10The eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֔וֹןtzi.YonH6726sitיֵשְׁב֨וּye.she.VuH3427upon the groundלָאָ֤רֶץla.'A.retzH776, andkeep silenceיִדְּמוּ֙yi.de.MuH1826:they have cast upהֶֽעֱל֤וּhe.'e.LuH5927dustעָפָר֙'a.FarH6083upon their headsרֹאשָׁ֔םro.ShamH7218;they have girdedחָגְר֖וּcha.ge.RuH2296themselves with sackclothשַׂקִּ֑יםsa.KimH8242:the virginsבְּתוּלֹ֖תbe.tu.LotH1330of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סye.ru.sha.LimH3389hang downהוֹרִ֤ידוּho.Ri.duH3381their headsרֹאשָׁ֔ןro.ShanH7218to the groundלָאָ֙רֶץ֙la.'A.retzH776.

11Mine eyesעֵינַי֙'ei.NaiH5869do failכָּל֨וּka.LuH3615with tearsבַדְּמָע֤וֹתva.de.ma.'otH1832,my bowelsמֵעַ֔יme.'AiH4578are troubledחֳמַרְמְר֣וּcho.mar.me.RuH2560,my liverכְּבֵדִ֔יke.ve.DiH3516is pouredנִשְׁפַּ֤ךְnish.PakhH8210upon the earthלָאָ֙רֶץ֙la.'A.retzH776,for the destructionשֶׁ֖בֶרShe.verH7667of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of my peopleעַמִּ֑י'a.MiH5971;because the childrenעוֹלֵל֙o.LelH5768and the sucklingsוְיוֹנֵ֔קve.yo.NekH3243swoonבֵּֽעָטֵ֤ףbe.'a.TefH5848in the streetsבִּרְחֹב֖וֹתbir.cho.VotH7339of the cityקִרְיָֽה׃ סkir.YahH7151.

12They sayיֹֽאמְר֔וּyo.me.RuH559to their mothersלְאִמֹּתָם֙le.'i.mo.TamH517, Where isgrainדָּגָ֣ןda.GanH1715and wineוָיָ֑יִןva.Ya.yinH3196?when they swoonedבְּהִֽתְעַטְּפָ֤םbe.hit.'a.te.FamH5848as the woundedכֶּֽחָלָל֙ke.cha.LalH2491in the streetsבִּרְחֹב֣וֹתbir.cho.VotH7339of the cityעִ֔יר'IrH5892,when their soulנַפְשָׁ֔םnaf.ShamH5315was poured outבְּהִשְׁתַּפֵּ֣ךְbe.hish.ta.PekhH8210into their mothers’אִמֹּתָֽם׃ ס'i.mo.TamH517bosomחֵ֖יקcheikH2436.

13What thing shall I take to witnessאֲעִידֵ֞ךְ'a.'i.DekhH5749for thee? what thingH4100shall I likenאֲדַמֶּה־'a.da.meh-H1819to thee, O daughterהַבַּת֙ha.BatH1323of Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389?what shall I equalאַשְׁוֶה־'ash.veh-H7737to thee, that I may comfortוַאֲנַֽחֲמֵ֔ךְva.'a.na.cha.MekhH5162thee, O virginבְּתוּלַ֖תbe.tu.LatH1330daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִיּ֑וֹןtzi.YonH6726?for thy breachשִׁבְרֵ֖ךְshiv.RekhH7667isgreatגָד֥וֹלga.DolH1419like the seaכַּיָּ֛םkai.YamH3220:who can healיִרְפָּא־yir.pa'-H7495thee?

14Thy prophetsנְבִיאַ֗יִךְne.vi.'A.yikhH5030have seenחָ֤זוּCha.zuH2372vainשָׁ֣וְאshav'H7723and foolish thingsוְתָפֵ֔לve.ta.FelH8602for thee: and they have not discoveredגִלּ֥וּgi.LuH1540thine iniquityעֲוֹנֵ֖ךְ'a.vo.NekhH5771,to turn awayלְהָשִׁ֣יבle.ha.ShivH7725thy captivityשְׁבוּתֵ֑ךְshe.vi.tekhH7622;but have seenוַיֶּ֣חֱזוּvai.Ye.che.zuH2372for thee falseשָׁ֖וְאshav'H7723burdensH4864and causes of banishmentוּמַדּוּחִֽים׃ סu.ma.du.ChimH4065.

15All that passעֹ֣בְרֵיoe.reiH5674by clapסָֽפְק֨וּsa.fe.KuH5606theirhandsכַּפַּ֙יִם֙ka.Pa.yimH3709at theeדֶ֔רֶךְDe.rekhH1870;they hissשָֽׁרְקוּ֙sha.re.KuH8319and wagוַיָּנִ֣עוּvai.ya.Ni.'uH5128their headרֹאשָׁ֔םro.ShamH7218at the daughterבַּ֖תbatH1323of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389, saying, Isthis the cityהָעִ֗ירha.'IrH5892that mencallשֶׁיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙shei.yo.me.RuH559The perfectionכְּלִ֣ילַתke.Li.latH3632of beautyיֹ֔פִיYo.fiH3308,The joyמָשׂ֖וֹשׂma.SosH4885of the whole earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ סha.'A.retzH776?

16All thine enemiesא֣וֹיְבַ֔יִךְ'oy.Va.yikhH341have openedפָּצ֨וּpa.TzuH6475their mouthפִּיהֶם֙pi.HemH6310against thee: they hissשָֽׁרְקוּ֙sha.re.KuH8319and gnashוַיַּֽחַרְקוּ־vai.ya.char.ku-H2786the teethשֵׁ֔ןShenH8127:they sayאָמְר֖וּ'a.me.RuH559, We have swallowed herupבִּלָּ֑עְנוּbi.La.'e.nuH1104:certainlyאַ֣ךְ'akhH389this isthe dayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117that we looked forשֶׁקִּוִּינֻ֖הוּshe.ki.vi.Nu.huH6960;we have foundמָצָ֥אנוּma.Tza.nuH4672,we have seenרָאִֽינוּ׃ סra.'I.nuH7200it.

17Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068hath doneעָשָׂ֨ה'a.SahH6213thatwhich he had devisedזָמָ֗םza.MamH2161;he hath fulfilledבִּצַּ֤עbi.Tza'H1214his wordאֶמְרָתוֹ֙'em.ra.ToH565that he had commandedצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680in the daysמִֽימֵי־mi.mei-H3117of oldקֶ֔דֶםKe.demH6924:he hath thrown downהָרַ֖סha.RasH2040,and hath not pitiedחָמָ֑לcha.MalH2550: and he hath caused thineenemyאוֹיֵ֔ב'o.YevH341to rejoiceוַיְשַׂמַּ֤חvay.sa.MachH8055over thee, he hath set upהֵרִ֖יםhe.RimH7311the hornקֶ֥רֶןKe.renH7161of thine adversariesצָרָֽיִךְ׃ סtza.Ra.yikhH6862.

18Their heartלִבָּ֖םli.BamH3820criedצָעַ֥קtza.'AkH6817unto the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136,O wallחוֹמַ֣תcho.MatH2346of the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Zionצִ֠יּוֹןTzi.yonH6726,let tearsדִּמְעָה֙dim.'AhH1832run downהוֹרִ֨ידִיho.Ri.diH3381like a riverכַנַּ֤חַלkha.Na.chalH5158dayיוֹמָ֣םyo.MamH3119and nightוָלַ֔יְלָהva.Lay.lahH3915:giveתִּתְּנִ֤יti.te.NiH5414thyself no restפוּגַת֙fu.GatH6314;let not the appleבַּת־bat-H1323of thine eyeעֵינֵֽךְ׃ ס'ei.NekhH5869ceaseתִּדֹּ֖םti.DomH1826.

19Ariseק֣וּמִי׀Ku.miH6965,cry outרֹ֣נִּיRo.niH7442in the nightבַלַּ֗יְלָהva.la.yilH3915:in the beginningלְרֹאשׁ֙le.roShH7218of the watchesאַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת'ash.mu.RotH821pour outשִׁפְכִ֤יshif.KhiH8210thine heartלִבֵּ֔ךְli.BekhH3820like waterכַמַּ֙יִם֙kha.Ma.yimH4325beforeנֹ֖כַחNo.khachH5227the faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136:lift upשְׂאִ֧יse.'IH5375thy handsכַּפַּ֗יִךְka.Pa.yikhH3709toward him for the lifeנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ne.feshH5315of thy young childrenעֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְo.la.La.yikhH5768,that faintהָעֲטוּפִ֥יםha.'a.tu.FimH5848for hungerבְּרָעָ֖בbe.ra.'AvH7458in the topבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218of every streetחוּצֽוֹת׃ סchu.TzotH2351.

20Beholdרְאֵ֤הre.'EhH7200,O Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,and considerוְֽהַבִּ֔יטָהve.ha.Bi.tahH5027to whom thou hast doneעוֹלַ֣לְתָּo.Lal.taH5953thisכֹּ֑הKohH3541.Shall the womenנָשִׁ֤יםna.ShimH802eatתֹּאכַ֨לְנָהto.Khal.nahH398their fruitפִּרְיָם֙pir.YamH6529, andchildrenעֹלֲלֵ֣י'o.la.LeiH5768of a span longטִפֻּחִ֔יםti.pu.ChimH2949?shall the priestכֹּהֵ֥ןko.HenH3548and the prophetוְנָבִֽיא׃ סve.na.Vi'H5030be slainיֵהָרֵ֛גye.ha.RegH2026in the sanctuaryבְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁbe.mik.DashH4720of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֖י'a.do.NaiH136?

21The youngנַ֣עַרNa.'arH5288and the oldוְזָקֵ֔ןve.za.KenH2205lieשָׁכְב֨וּsha.khe.VuH7901on the groundלָאָ֤רֶץla.'A.retzH776in the streetsחוּצוֹת֙chu.tzOtH2351:my virginsבְּתוּלֹתַ֥יbe.tu.lo.TaiH1330and my young menוּבַחוּרַ֖יu.va.chu.RaiH970are fallenנָפְל֣וּna.fe.LuH5307by the swordבֶחָ֑רֶבve.Cha.revH2719;thou hast slainהָרַ֙גְתָּ֙ha.Rag.taH2026themin the dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117of thine angerאַפֶּ֔ךָ'a.Pe.khaH639;thou hast killedטָבַ֖חְתָּta.Vach.taH2873, andnot pitiedחָמָֽלְתָּ׃ סcha.Mal.taH2550.

22Thou hast calledתִּקְרָא֩tik.Ra'H7121as in a solemnמוֹעֵ֤דmo.'EdH4150dayכְי֨וֹםkhe.YomH3117my terrorsמְגוּרַי֙me.gu.RaiH4032round aboutמִסָּבִ֔יבmi.sa.VivH5439,so that in the dayבְּי֥וֹםbe.YomH3117of Yhwh'sיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068angerאַף־'af-H639none escapedפָּלִ֣יטpa.LitH6412nor remainedוְשָׂרִ֑ידve.sa.RidH8300:those that I have swaddledטִפַּ֥חְתִּיti.Pach.tiH2946and brought upוְרִבִּ֖יתִיve.ri.Bi.tiH7235hath mine enemyאֹיְבִ֥י'o.ye.ViH341consumedכִלָּֽם׃ פkhi.LamH3615.

Commentaries on Lamentations 2