Lamentations 3

אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ {ס}

א I am the man who has known affliction Under the rod of God’s wrath;

אוֹתִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃ {ס}

It is I who was driven on and on In unrelieved darkness;

אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס}

On none but me God’s hand descends Again and again, without cease.

בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעוֹרִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃ {ס}

ב My flesh and skin has been worn away; My bones have been shattered.

בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃ {ס}

All around me have been built Misery as equivalent to resh . and hardship;

בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃ {ס}

I am made to dwell in darkness, Like those long dead.

גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחׇשְׁתִּֽי׃ {ס}

ג I have been walled in and I cannot break out; And am weighed down with chains.

גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ {ס}

And when I cry and plead, [God] shuts out my prayer—

גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃ {ס}

Walling in my ways with hewn blocks, And making my paths a maze.

דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י (אריה) [אֲרִ֖י] בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃ {ס}

ד A lurking bear [God] is to me, A lion in hiding—

דְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃ {ס}

Forcing me off my way and mangling me, Leaving me numb.

דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ {ס}

[God] has bent the bow and made me The target of divine arrows—

הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיֹתָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃ {ס}

ה Shooting into my vitals A quiver’s shafts.

הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכׇל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס}

I have become a laughingstock to all people, The butt of their gibes all day long.

הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ {ס}

I have been filled with bitterness, And sated with wormwood.

וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃ {ס}

ו [God] has broken my teeth on gravel, Has ground me into the dust.

וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁל֛וֹם נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃ {ס}

My life was bereft of peace, I forgot what happiness was.

וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}

I thought my strength and hope Had perished before G OD .

זְכׇר־עׇנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃ {ס}

ז To recall my distress and my misery Was wormwood and poison;

זָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר (ותשיח) [וְתָשׁ֥וֹחַ] עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃ {ס}

Whenever I thought of them, I was bowed low.

זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃ {ס}

But this do I call to mind, Therefore I have hope:

חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃ {ס}

ח The kindness of G OD has not ended, And God’s mercies are not spent.

חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ {ס}

They are renewed every morning— Ample is Your grace!

חֶלְקִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃ {ס}

“G OD is my portion,” I say with full heart; This is the One in whom I have hope.

ט֤וֹב יְהֹוָה֙ לְקֹוָ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃ {ס}

ט Good comes to those who trust in G OD , To the one who seeks God’s presence;

ט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}

It is good to wait patiently Till rescue comes from G OD .

ט֣וֹב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ {ס}

It is good for a man, when young, To bear a yoke;

יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃ {ס}

י Let him sit alone and be patient, When it is laid upon him.

יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃ {ס}

Let him put his mouth to the dust— There may yet be hope.

יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ {ס}

Let him offer his cheek to the aggressor; Let him be surfeited with mockery.

כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃ {ס}

כ For the Sovereign does not Reject forever,

כִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חֲסָדָֽיו׃ {ס}

But first afflicts, then pardons In abundant kindness.

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבּ֔וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְּנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃ {ס}

For [God] does not willfully bring grief Or affliction to those involved,

לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}

ל Crushing underfoot All the prisoners of the earth.

לְהַטּוֹת֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ {ס}

To deny a man his rights In the presence of the Most High,

לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ {ס}

To wrong a man in his cause— This the Sovereign does not choose.

מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃ {ס}

מ Whose decree was ever fulfilled, Unless the Sovereign willed it?

מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃ {ס}

Is it not at the word of the Most High, That weal and woe befall?

מַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חֲטָאָֽו׃ {ס}

Of what shall a living man complain? Each one of his own sins!

נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}

נ Let us search and examine our ways, And turn back to G OD ;

נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ {ס}

Let us lift up our hearts with our hands To God in heaven:

נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ {ס}

We have transgressed and rebelled, And You have not forgiven.

סַכּ֤וֹתָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃ {ס}

ס You have clothed Yourself in anger and pursued us, You have slain without pity.

סַכּ֤וֹתָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲב֖וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃ {ס}

You have screened Yourself off with a cloud, That no prayer may pass through.

סְחִ֧י וּמָא֛וֹס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃ {ס}

You have made us filth and refuse In the midst of the peoples.

פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כׇּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ {ס}

פ All our enemies loudly Rail against us.

פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃ {ס}

Panic and pitfall are our lot, Death and destruction.

פַּלְגֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס}

My eyes shed streams of water Over the ruin of my poor people.

עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃ {ס}

ע My eyes shall flow without cease, Without respite,

עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהֹוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ {ס}

Until G OD looks down And beholds from heaven.

עֵינִי֙ עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנ֥וֹת עִירִֽי׃ {ס}

My eyes have brought me grief Over all the maidens of my city.

צ֥וֹד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃ {ס}

צ My foes have snared me like a bird, Without any cause.

צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃ {ס}

They have ended my life in a pit And cast stones at me.

צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ {ס}

Waters flowed over my head; I said: I am lost!

קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃ {ס}

ק I have called on Your name, O E TERNAL One, From the depths of the Pit.

קוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אׇזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃ {ס}

Hear my plea; Do not shut Your ear To my groan, to my cry!

קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃ {ס}

You have ever drawn nigh when I called You; You have said, “Do not fear!”

רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃ {ס}

ר You championed my cause, O my Sovereign, You have redeemed my life.

רָאִ֤יתָה יְהֹוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שׇׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃ {ס}

You have seen, O E TERNAL One, the wrong done me; Oh, vindicate my right!

רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כׇּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כׇּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ {ס}

You have seen all their malice, All their designs against me;

שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה כׇּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃ {ס}

ש You have heard, O E TERNAL One, their taunts, All their designs against me,

שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס}

The mouthings and chattering of my adversaries Against me all day long.

שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ {ס}

See how, at their ease or at work, I am the butt of their gibes.

תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}

ת Give them, O E TERNAL One, their deserts According to their deeds.

תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃ {ס}

Give them anguish of heart; Your curse be upon them!

תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

Oh, pursue them in wrath and destroy them From under G OD ’s heavens!