Lamentations 3 אֵיכָה

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

¹אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֨בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃

ani haggever ra'a oni beshevet evrato

I am the man that hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.

²אוֹתִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃

oti nahag vayyolakh choshekh velo-or

He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness and not in light.

³אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

akh bi yashuv yahafokh yado kal-hayyom

Surely against me He turneth His hand again and again all the day.

⁴בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעוֹרִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃

billa vesari ve'ori shibbar atzmotay

My flesh and my skin hath He worn out; He hath broken my bones.

⁵בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃

bana alay vayyakkaf rosh utela'a

He hath builded against me, and compassed me With gall and travail.

⁶בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃

bemachashakkim hoshivani kemete olam

He hath made me to dwell in dark places, As those that have been long dead. .

⁷גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃

gadar ba'adi velo etze hikhbid nechashti

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot go forth; He hath made my chain heavy.

⁸גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃

gam ki ez'ak va'ashavvea satam tefillati

Yea, when I cry and call for help, He shutteth out my prayer.

⁹גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃

gadar derakhay begazit netivotay ivva

He hath enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He hath made my paths crooked.

¹⁰דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י אריה [אֲרִ֖י] בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃

dov orev hu li ari bemistarim

He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, As a lion in secret places.

¹¹דְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃

derakhay sorer vayfashecheni samani shomem

He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; He hath made me desolate.

¹²דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃

darakh kashto vayyatziveni kammattara lachetz

He hath bent His bow, and set me As a mark for the arrow.

¹³הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיוֹתָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃

hevi bekhilyotay bene ashpato

He hath caused the arrows of His quiver To enter into my reins.

¹⁴הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכָל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

hayiti sechok lekhal-ammi neginatam kal-hayyom

I am become a derision to all my people, And their song all the day.

¹⁵הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃

hisbi'ani vammerorim hirvani la'ana

He hath filled me with bitterness, He hath sated me with wormwood.

¹⁶וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃

vayyagres bechatzatz shinnay hikhpishani ba'efer

He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He hath made me to wallow in ashes.

¹⁷וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁל֛וֹם נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃

vattiznach mishalom nafshi nashiti tova

And my soul is removed far off from peace, I forgot prosperity.

¹⁸וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהוָֽה׃

va'omar avad nitzchi vetochalti meADONAI

And I said: ‘My strength is perished, And mine expectation from the LORD.’

¹⁹זְכָר־עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃

zekhar-anyi umerudi la'ana varosh

Remember mine affliction and mine anguish, The wormwood and the gall.

²⁰זָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר ותשיח [וְתָשׁ֥וֹחַ] עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃

zakhor tizkor vetashoach alay nafshi

My soul hath them still in remembrance, And is bowed down within me.

²¹זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃

zot ashiv el-libbi al-ken ochil

This I recall to my mind, Therefore have I hope.

²²חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃

chasde ADONAI ki lo-tamnu ki lo-khalu rachamav

Surely the LORD’S mercies are not consumed, Surely His compassions fail not.

²³חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃

chadashim labbekarim rabba emunatekha

They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.

²⁴חֶלְקִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃

chelki ADONAI amra nafshi al-ken ochil lo

’The LORD is my portion’, saith my soul; ‘Therefore will I hope in Him.’

²⁵ט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ לְקוָֹ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃

tov ADONAI lekov lenefesh tidreshennu

The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, To the soul that seeketh Him.

²⁶ט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהוָֽה׃

tov veyachil vedumam litshu'at ADONAI

It is good that a man should quietly wait For the salvation of the LORD.

²⁷ט֣וֹב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃

tov laggever ki-yissa ol bin'urav

It is good for a man that he bear The yoke in his youth.

²⁸יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃

yeshev badad veyiddom ki natal alav

Let him sit alone and keep silence, Because He hath laid it upon him.

²⁹יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃

yitten be'afar pihu ulay yesh tikva

Let him put his mouth in the dust, If so be there may be hope.

³⁰יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃

yitten lemakkehu lechi yisba' becherpa

Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him Let him be filled full with reproach.

³¹כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃

ki lo yiznach le'olam adonay

For the Lord will not cast off For ever.

³²כִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חסדו [חֲסָדָֽיו]׃

ki im-hoga vericham kerov chasadav

For though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.

³³כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבּ֔וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃

ki lo inna millibbo vayyagge vene-ish

For He doth not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.

³⁴לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

ledakke tachat raglav kol asire aretz

To crush under foot All the prisoners of the earth,

³⁵לְהַטּוֹת֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃

lehattot mishpat-gaver neged pene elyon

To turn aside the right of a man Before the face of the Most High,

³⁶לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃

le'avvet adam berivo adonay lo ra'a

To subvert a man in his cause, The Lord approveth not.

³⁷מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃

mi ze amar vattehi adonay lo tzivva

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, When the Lord commandeth it not?

³⁸מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃

mippi elyon lo tetze hara'ot vehattov

Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not Evil and good?

³⁹מַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חטאו [חֲטָאָֽיו]׃

ma-yitonen adam chay gever al-chata'av

Wherefore doth a living man complain, A strong man because of his sins?

⁴⁰נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֨ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהוָֽה׃

nachpesa derakhenu venachkora venashuva ad-ADONAI

Let us search and try our ways, And return to the LORD.

⁴¹נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

nissa levavenu el-kappayim el-el bashamayim

Let us lift up our heart with our hands Unto God in the heavens.

⁴²נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֨עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃

nachnu fasha'nu umarinu atta lo salachta

We have transgressed and have rebelled; Thou hast not pardoned.

⁴³סַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃

sakkota va'af vattirdefenu haragta lo chamalta

Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; Thou hast slain unsparingly.

⁴⁴סַכּ֤וֹתָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲב֖וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃

sakkota ve'anan lakh me'avor tefilla

Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that no prayer can pass through.

⁴⁵סְחִ֧י וּמָא֛וֹס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃

sechi umaos tesimenu bekerev ha'ammim

Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse In the midst of the peoples.

⁴⁶פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כָּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

patzu alenu pihem kal-oyvenu

All our enemies have opened their mouth Wide against us.

⁴⁷פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃

pachad vafachat haya lanu hashet vehashaver

Terror and the pit are come upon us, Desolation and destruction.

⁴⁸פַּלְגֵי־מַ֨יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃

palge-mayim terad eni al-shever bat-ammi

Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water, For the breach of the daughter of my people.

⁴⁹עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃

eni niggera velo tidme me'en hafugot

Mine eye is poured out, and ceaseth not, Without any intermission,

⁵⁰עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

ad-yashkif veyere ADONAI mishamayim

Till the LORD look forth, And behold from heaven.

⁵¹עֵינִי֙ עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנ֥וֹת עִירִֽי׃

eni olla lenafshi mikkol benot iri

Mine eye affected my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.

⁵²צ֥וֹד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃

tzod tzaduni katzippor oyvay chinnam

They have chased me sore like a bird, That are mine enemies without cause.

⁵³צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃

tzamtu vabbor chayyay vayyaddu-even bi

They have cut off my life in the dungeon, And have cast stones upon me.

⁵⁴צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃

tzafu-mayim al-roshi amarti nigzarti

Waters flowed over my head; I said: ‘I am cut off.’

⁵⁵קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃

karati shimkha ADONAI mibbor tachtiyyot

I called upon Thy name, O LORD, Out of the lowest dungeon.

⁵⁶קוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃

koli shama'ta al-ta'lem aznekha leravchati leshav'ati

Thou heardest my voice; hide not Thine ear at my sighing, at my cry.

⁵⁷קָרַ֨בְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃

karavta beyom ekra'ekka amarta al-tira

Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee; Thou saidst: ‘Fear not.’ .

⁵⁸רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃

ravta adonay rive nafshi ga'alta chayyay

O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life.

⁵⁹רָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃

ra'ita ADONAI avvatati shafta mishpati

O LORD, Thou hast seen my wrong; Judge Thou my cause.

⁶⁰רָאִ֨יתָה֙ כָּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃

ra'ita kal-nikmatam kal-machshevotam li

Thou hast seen all their vengeance And all their devices against me.

⁶¹שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃

shama'ta cherpatam ADONAI kal-machshevotam alay

Thou hast heard their taunt, O LORD, And all their devices against me;

⁶²שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

sifte kamay vehegyonam alay kal-hayyom

The lips of those that rose up against me, And their muttering against me all the day.

⁶³שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃

shivtam vekimatam habbita ani manginatam

Behold Thou their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.

⁶⁴תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃

tashiv lahem gemul ADONAI kema'ase yedehem

Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O LORD, According to the work of their hands.

⁶⁵תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃

titten lahem meginnat-lev ta'alatkha lahem

Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, Thy curse unto them.

⁶⁶תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

tirdof be'af vetashmidem mittachat sheme ADONAI

Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them From under the heavens of the LORD.

World Messianic Bible (English numbering)

¹I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

²He has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.

³Surely he turns his hand against me again and again all day long.

⁴He has made my flesh and my skin old. He has broken my bones.

⁵He has built against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

⁶He has made me dwell in dark places, as those who have been long dead.

⁷He has walled me about, so that I can’t go out. He has made my chain heavy.

⁸Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

⁹He has walled up my ways with cut stone. He has made my paths crooked.

¹⁰He is to me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in hiding.

¹¹He has turned away my path, and pulled me in pieces. He has made me desolate.

¹²He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

¹³He has caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my kidneys.

¹⁴I have become a derision to all my people, and their song all day long.

¹⁵He has filled me with bitterness. He has stuffed me with wormwood.

¹⁶He has also broken my teeth with gravel. He has covered me with ashes.

¹⁷You have removed my soul far away from peace. I forgot prosperity.

¹⁸I said, “My strength has perished, along with my expectation from the LORD.”

¹⁹Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the bitterness.

²⁰My soul still remembers them, and is bowed down within me.

²¹This I recall to my mind; therefore I have hope.

²²It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail.

²³They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

²⁴“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul. “Therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

²⁶It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

²⁷It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

²⁸Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has laid it on him.

²⁹Let him put his mouth in the dust, if it is so that there may be hope.

³⁰Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach.

³¹For the Lord will not cast off forever.

³²For though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

³³For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

³⁴To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,

³⁵to turn away the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

³⁶to subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn’t approve.

³⁷Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?

³⁸Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?

³⁹Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

⁴⁰Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

⁴¹Let’s lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.

⁴²“We have transgressed and have rebelled. You have not pardoned.

⁴³“You have covered us with anger and pursued us. You have killed. You have not pitied.

⁴⁴You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.

⁴⁵You have made us an off-scouring and refuse in the middle of the peoples.

⁴⁶“All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.

⁴⁷Terror and the pit have come on us, devastation and destruction.”

⁴⁸My eye runs down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

⁴⁹My eye pours down and doesn’t cease, without any intermission,

⁵⁰until the LORD looks down, and sees from heaven.

⁵¹My eye affects my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.

⁵²They have chased me relentlessly like a bird, those who are my enemies without cause.

⁵³They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone on me.

⁵⁴Waters flowed over my head. I said, “I am cut off.”

⁵⁵I called on your name, LORD, out of the lowest dungeon.

⁵⁶You heard my voice: “Don’t hide your ear from my sighing, and my cry.”

⁵⁷You came near in the day that I called on you. You said, “Don’t be afraid.”

⁵⁸Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul. You have redeemed my life.

⁵⁹LORD, you have seen my wrong. Judge my cause.

⁶⁰You have seen all their vengeance and all their plans against me.

⁶¹You have heard their reproach, LORD, and all their plans against me,

⁶²the lips of those that rose up against me, and their plots against me all day long.

⁶³You see their sitting down and their rising up. I am their song.

⁶⁴You will pay them back, LORD, according to the work of their hands.

⁶⁵You will give them hardness of heart, your curse to them.

⁶⁶You will pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD.

Sister sites

JesusTokEvery word Jesus spoke, as cinematic cards you can swipe.AngelTokWhat Scripture says about angels, and real encounters.DivineTokSwipe Scripture. Tap deeper.BibVidRead the Bible: watch the story, enter the world.

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.

Welcome to JewTok

Lamentations 3 אֵיכָה

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

Sister sites

Install JewTok