(א) ואלין דשדר משה וכו׳: ואלו המרגלים ששלח משה, גרמו בכיה לדורות האחרונים כי ביום הזה נחרבו בית המקדש הראשון והשני, וגרמו להסתלק מישראל כמה אלפים ורבבות, וגרמו לסלק השכינה מן הארץ מבין ישראל. אלו ששלח יהושע, נאמר בהם ונפש אדוניו ישיב.
(א) ר׳ חזקיה ור׳ ייסא וכו׳: ר׳״ח ור״י היו הולכים בדרך, אמר ר׳ ייסא לר׳ חזקיה אני רואה בפניך שיש בך הרהור. אמר ליה הרי ודאי. מקרא זה הסתכלתי בו, כיון שאמר שלמה כי מקרה בני האדם ומקרה הבהמה ומקרה אחד להם וגו׳. ולמדנו, שכל דבריו של שלמה המלך כולם סתומים ממדרגות החכמה. א״כ, מקרא זה יש להסתכל בו, כי נמצא כאן פתח לאלו שאינם בני אמונה.
(א) א״ל ודאי הכי וכו׳: א״ל, ודאי כך הוא, שיש בזה פתח לבלתי מאמינים, ויש לדעת ולהסתכל בו. בתוך כך ראו אדם אחד שהיה בא, ובקש מהם מים, כי היה צמא, והיה עיף מתוקף השמש. אמרו לו מי אתה. אמר להם, יהודי אני ואני עיף וצמא. אמרו לו אתה עוסק בתורה. אמר להם, עד שאני עוסק עמכם בדיבורים, אעלה להר הזה, ושם אקח מים ואשתה.
(א) אֵיכָה֩ יָעִ֨יב בְּאַפּ֤וֹ ׀ אֲדֹנָי֙ אֶת־בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן הִשְׁלִ֤יךְ מִשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֶ֔רֶץ תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹא־זָכַ֥ר הֲדֹם־רַגְלָ֖יו בְּי֥וֹם אַפּֽוֹ׃ {ס} (ב) בִּלַּ֨ע אֲדֹנָ֜י (לא) [וְלֹ֣א] חָמַ֗ל אֵ֚ת כׇּל־נְא֣וֹת יַעֲקֹ֔ב הָרַ֧ס בְּעֶבְרָת֛וֹ מִבְצְרֵ֥י בַת־יְהוּדָ֖ה הִגִּ֣יעַ לָאָ֑רֶץ חִלֵּ֥ל מַמְלָכָ֖ה וְשָׂרֶֽיהָ׃ {ס} (ג) גָּדַ֣ע בׇּֽחֳרִי־אַ֗ף כֹּ֚ל קֶ֣רֶן יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֵשִׁ֥יב אָח֛וֹר יְמִינ֖וֹ מִפְּנֵ֣י אוֹיֵ֑ב וַיִּבְעַ֤ר בְּיַעֲקֹב֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ לֶֽהָבָ֔ה אָכְלָ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃ {ס} (ד) דָּרַ֨ךְ קַשְׁתּ֜וֹ כְּאוֹיֵ֗ב נִצָּ֤ב יְמִינוֹ֙ כְּצָ֔ר וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֔ג כֹּ֖ל מַחֲמַדֵּי־עָ֑יִן בְּאֹ֙הֶל֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן שָׁפַ֥ךְ כָּאֵ֖שׁ חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ {ס} (ה) הָיָ֨ה אֲדֹנָ֤י ׀ כְּאוֹיֵב֙ בִּלַּ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בִּלַּע֙ כׇּל־אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ שִׁחֵ֖ת מִבְצָרָ֑יו וַיֶּ֙רֶב֙ בְּבַת־יְהוּדָ֔ה תַּאֲנִיָּ֖ה וַאֲנִיָּֽה׃ {ס} (ו) וַיַּחְמֹ֤ס כַּגַּן֙ שֻׂכּ֔וֹ שִׁחֵ֖ת מֹעֲד֑וֹ שִׁכַּ֨ח יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ בְּצִיּוֹן֙ מוֹעֵ֣ד וְשַׁבָּ֔ת וַיִּנְאַ֥ץ בְּזַֽעַם־אַפּ֖וֹ מֶ֥לֶךְ וְכֹהֵֽן׃ {ס} (ז) זָנַ֨ח אֲדֹנָ֤י ׀ מִזְבְּחוֹ֙ נִאֵ֣ר מִקְדָּשׁ֔וֹ הִסְגִּיר֙ בְּיַד־אוֹיֵ֔ב חוֹמֹ֖ת אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ ק֛וֹל נָתְנ֥וּ בְּבֵית־יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּי֥וֹם מוֹעֵֽד׃ {ס} (ח) חָשַׁ֨ב יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ לְהַשְׁחִית֙ חוֹמַ֣ת בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן נָ֣טָה קָ֔ו לֹא־הֵשִׁ֥יב יָד֖וֹ מִבַּלֵּ֑עַ וַיַּֽאֲבֶל־חֵ֥ל וְחוֹמָ֖ה יַחְדָּ֥ו אֻמְלָֽלוּ׃ {ס} (ט) טָבְע֤וּ בָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שְׁעָרֶ֔יהָ אִבַּ֥ד וְשִׁבַּ֖ר בְּרִיחֶ֑יהָ מַלְכָּ֨הּ וְשָׂרֶ֤יהָ בַגּוֹיִם֙ אֵ֣ין תּוֹרָ֔ה גַּם־נְבִיאֶ֕יהָ לֹא־מָצְא֥וּ חָז֖וֹן מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} (י) יֵשְׁב֨וּ לָאָ֤רֶץ יִדְּמוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י בַת־צִיּ֔וֹן הֶֽעֱל֤וּ עָפָר֙ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם חָגְר֖וּ שַׂקִּ֑ים הוֹרִ֤ידוּ לָאָ֙רֶץ֙ רֹאשָׁ֔ן בְּתוּלֹ֖ת יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס} (יא) כָּל֨וּ בַדְּמָע֤וֹת עֵינַי֙ חֳמַרְמְר֣וּ מֵעַ֔י נִשְׁפַּ֤ךְ לָאָ֙רֶץ֙ כְּבֵדִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּ֑י בֵּֽעָטֵ֤ף עוֹלֵל֙ וְיוֹנֵ֔ק בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת קִרְיָֽה׃ {ס} (יב) לְאִמֹּתָם֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֖ה דָּגָ֣ן וָיָ֑יִן בְּהִֽתְעַטְּפָ֤ם כֶּֽחָלָל֙ בִּרְחֹב֣וֹת עִ֔יר בְּהִשְׁתַּפֵּ֣ךְ נַפְשָׁ֔ם אֶל־חֵ֖יק אִמֹּתָֽם׃ {ס} (יג) מָֽה־אֲעִידֵ֞ךְ מָ֣ה אֲדַמֶּה־לָּ֗ךְ הַבַּת֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם מָ֤ה אַשְׁוֶה־לָּךְ֙ וַאֲנַֽחֲמֵ֔ךְ בְּתוּלַ֖ת בַּת־צִיּ֑וֹן כִּֽי־גָד֥וֹל כַּיָּ֛ם שִׁבְרֵ֖ךְ מִ֥י יִרְפָּא־לָֽךְ׃ {ס} (יד) נְבִיאַ֗יִךְ חָ֤זוּ לָךְ֙ שָׁ֣וְא וְתָפֵ֔ל וְלֹֽא־גִלּ֥וּ עַל־עֲוֺנֵ֖ךְ לְהָשִׁ֣יב (שביתך) [שְׁבוּתֵ֑ךְ] וַיֶּ֣חֱזוּ לָ֔ךְ מַשְׂא֥וֹת שָׁ֖וְא וּמַדּוּחִֽים׃ {ס} (טו) סָֽפְק֨וּ עָלַ֤יִךְ כַּפַּ֙יִם֙ כׇּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דֶ֔רֶךְ שָֽׁרְקוּ֙ וַיָּנִ֣עוּ רֹאשָׁ֔ם עַל־בַּ֖ת יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם הֲזֹ֣את הָעִ֗יר שֶׁיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ כְּלִ֣ילַת יֹ֔פִי מָשׂ֖וֹשׂ לְכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {ס} (טז) פָּצ֨וּ עָלַ֤יִךְ פִּיהֶם֙ כׇּל־אֹ֣יְבַ֔יִךְ שָֽׁרְקוּ֙ וַיַּֽחַרְקוּ־שֵׁ֔ן אָמְר֖וּ בִּלָּ֑עְנוּ אַ֣ךְ זֶ֥ה הַיּ֛וֹם שֶׁקִּוִּינֻ֖הוּ מָצָ֥אנוּ רָאִֽינוּ׃ {ס} (יז) עָשָׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר זָמָ֗ם בִּצַּ֤ע אֶמְרָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה מִֽימֵי־קֶ֔דֶם הָרַ֖ס וְלֹ֣א חָמָ֑ל וַיְשַׂמַּ֤ח עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ אוֹיֵ֔ב הֵרִ֖ים קֶ֥רֶן צָרָֽיִךְ׃ {ס} (יח) צָעַ֥ק לִבָּ֖ם אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֑י חוֹמַ֣ת בַּת־צִ֠יּ֠וֹן הוֹרִ֨ידִי כַנַּ֤חַל דִּמְעָה֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה אַֽל־תִּתְּנִ֤י פוּגַת֙ לָ֔ךְ אַל־תִּדֹּ֖ם בַּת־עֵינֵֽךְ׃ {ס} (יט) ק֣וּמִי ׀ רֹ֣נִּי (בליל) [בַלַּ֗יְלָה] לְרֹאשׁ֙ אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת שִׁפְכִ֤י כַמַּ֙יִם֙ לִבֵּ֔ךְ נֹ֖כַח פְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י שְׂאִ֧י אֵלָ֣יו כַּפַּ֗יִךְ עַל־נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ הָעֲטוּפִ֥ים בְּרָעָ֖ב בְּרֹ֥אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצֽוֹת׃ {ס} (כ) רְאֵ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה לְמִ֖י עוֹלַ֣לְתָּ כֹּ֑ה אִם־תֹּאכַ֨לְנָה נָשִׁ֤ים פִּרְיָם֙ עֹלְלֵ֣י טִפֻּחִ֔ים אִם־יֵהָרֵ֛ג בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ אֲדֹנָ֖י כֹּהֵ֥ן וְנָבִֽיא׃ {ס} (כא) שָׁכְב֨וּ לָאָ֤רֶץ חוּצוֹת֙ נַ֣עַר וְזָקֵ֔ן בְּתוּלֹתַ֥י וּבַחוּרַ֖י נָפְל֣וּ בֶחָ֑רֶב הָרַ֙גְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אַפֶּ֔ךָ טָבַ֖חְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃ {ס} (כב) תִּקְרָא֩ כְי֨וֹם מוֹעֵ֤ד מְגוּרַי֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב וְלֹ֥א הָיָ֛ה בְּי֥וֹם אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה פָּלִ֣יט וְשָׂרִ֑יד אֲשֶׁר־טִפַּ֥חְתִּי וְרִבִּ֖יתִי אֹיְבִ֥י כִלָּֽם׃ {פ}
(א) אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ {ס} (ב) אוֹתִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃ {ס} (ג) אַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס} (ד) בִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעוֹרִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃ {ס} (ה) בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃ {ס} (ו) בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃ {ס} (ז) גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחׇשְׁתִּֽי׃ {ס} (ח) גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ {ס} (ט) גָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃ {ס} (י) דֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י (אריה) [אֲרִ֖י] בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃ {ס} (יא) דְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃ {ס} (יב) דָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ {ס} (יג) הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיֹתָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃ {ס} (יד) הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכׇל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס} (טו) הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ {ס} (טז) וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃ {ס} (יז) וַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁל֛וֹם נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃ {ס} (יח) וָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} (יט) זְכׇר־עׇנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃ {ס} (כ) זָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר (ותשיח) [וְתָשׁ֥וֹחַ] עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃ {ס} (כא) זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃ {ס} (כב) חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃ {ס} (כג) חֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ {ס} (כד) חֶלְקִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃ {ס} (כה) ט֤וֹב יְהֹוָה֙ לְקֹוָ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃ {ס} (כו) ט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} (כז) ט֣וֹב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ {ס} (כח) יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃ {ס} (כט) יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃ {ס} (ל) יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ {ס} (לא) כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃ {ס} (לב) כִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חֲסָדָֽיו׃ {ס} (לג) כִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבּ֔וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְּנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃ {ס} (לד) לְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃ {ס} (לה) לְהַטּוֹת֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ {ס} (לו) לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ {ס} (לז) מִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃ {ס} (לח) מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃ {ס} (לט) מַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חֲטָאָֽו׃ {ס} (מ) נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס} (מא) נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ {ס} (מב) נַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ {ס} (מג) סַכּ֤וֹתָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃ {ס} (מד) סַכּ֤וֹתָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲב֖וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃ {ס} (מה) סְחִ֧י וּמָא֛וֹס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃ {ס} (מו) פָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כׇּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ {ס} (מז) פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃ {ס} (מח) פַּלְגֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס} (מט) עֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃ {ס} (נ) עַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהֹוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ {ס} (נא) עֵינִי֙ עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנ֥וֹת עִירִֽי׃ {ס} (נב) צ֥וֹד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃ {ס} (נג) צָֽמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃ {ס} (נד) צָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ {ס} (נה) קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃ {ס} (נו) קוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אׇזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃ {ס} (נז) קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃ {ס} (נח) רַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃ {ס} (נט) רָאִ֤יתָה יְהֹוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שׇׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃ {ס} (ס) רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כׇּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כׇּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ {ס} (סא) שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה כׇּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃ {ס} (סב) שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס} (סג) שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ {ס} (סד) תָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס} (סה) תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃ {ס} (סו) תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
(א) אֵיכָה֙ יוּעַ֣ם זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א הַכֶּ֣תֶם הַטּ֑וֹב תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙ אַבְנֵי־קֹ֔דֶשׁ בְּרֹ֖אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצֽוֹת׃ {ס} (ב) בְּנֵ֤י צִיּוֹן֙ הַיְקָרִ֔ים הַמְסֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑ז אֵיכָ֤ה נֶחְשְׁבוּ֙ לְנִבְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶשׂ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י יוֹצֵֽר׃ {ס} (ג) גַּם־[תַּנִּים֙] (תנין) חָ֣לְצוּ שַׁ֔ד הֵינִ֖יקוּ גּוּרֵיהֶ֑ן בַּת־עַמִּ֣י לְאַכְזָ֔ר (כי ענים) [כַּיְעֵינִ֖ים] בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ {ס} (ד) דָּבַ֨ק לְשׁ֥וֹן יוֹנֵ֛ק אֶל־חִכּ֖וֹ בַּצָּמָ֑א עֽוֹלָלִים֙ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ לֶ֔חֶם פֹּרֵ֖שׂ אֵ֥ין לָהֶֽם׃ {ס} (ה) הָאֹֽכְלִים֙ לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים נָשַׁ֖מּוּ בַּחוּצ֑וֹת הָאֱמֻנִים֙ עֲלֵ֣י תוֹלָ֔ע חִבְּק֖וּ אַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת׃ {ס} (ו) וַיִּגְדַּל֙ עֲוֺ֣ן בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מֵֽחַטַּ֖את סְדֹ֑ם הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה כְמוֹ־רָ֔גַע וְלֹא־חָ֥לוּ בָ֖הּ יָדָֽיִם׃ {ס} (ז) זַכּ֤וּ נְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙ מִשֶּׁ֔לֶג צַח֖וּ מֵחָלָ֑ב אָ֤דְמוּ עֶ֙צֶם֙ מִפְּנִינִ֔ים סַפִּ֖יר גִּזְרָתָֽם׃ {ס} (ח) חָשַׁ֤ךְ מִשְּׁחוֹר֙ תׇּֽאֳרָ֔ם לֹ֥א נִכְּר֖וּ בַּחוּצ֑וֹת צָפַ֤ד עוֹרָם֙ עַל־עַצְמָ֔ם יָבֵ֖שׁ הָיָ֥ה כָעֵֽץ׃ {ס} (ט) טוֹבִ֤ים הָיוּ֙ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב מֵֽחַלְלֵ֖י רָעָ֑ב שֶׁ֣הֵ֤ם יָזֻ֙בוּ֙ מְדֻקָּרִ֔ים מִתְּנוּבֹ֖ת שָׂדָֽי׃ {ס} (י) יְדֵ֗י נָשִׁים֙ רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת בִּשְּׁל֖וּ יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן הָי֤וּ לְבָרוֹת֙ לָ֔מוֹ בְּשֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ {ס} (יא) כִּלָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־חֲמָת֔וֹ שָׁפַ֖ךְ חֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֑וֹ וַיַּצֶּת־אֵ֣שׁ בְּצִיּ֔וֹן וַתֹּ֖אכַל יְסֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃ {ס} (יב) לֹ֤א הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ (וכל) [כֹּ֖ל] יֹשְׁבֵ֣י תֵבֵ֑ל כִּ֤י יָבֹא֙ צַ֣ר וְאוֹיֵ֔ב בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס} (יג) מֵֽחַטֹּ֣אות נְבִיאֶ֔יהָ עֲוֺנֹ֖ת כֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָ הַשֹּׁפְכִ֥ים בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ דַּ֥ם צַדִּיקִֽים׃ {ס} (יד) נָע֤וּ עִוְרִים֙ בַּֽחוּצ֔וֹת נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ בַּדָּ֑ם בְּלֹ֣א יֽוּכְל֔וּ יִגְּע֖וּ בִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ {ס} (טו) ס֣וּרוּ טָמֵ֞א קָ֣רְאוּ לָ֗מוֹ ס֤וּרוּ ס֙וּרוּ֙ אַל־תִּגָּ֔עוּ כִּ֥י נָצ֖וּ גַּם־נָ֑עוּ אָֽמְרוּ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖פוּ לָגֽוּר׃ {ס} (טז) פְּנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ חִלְּקָ֔ם לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖יף לְהַבִּיטָ֑ם פְּנֵ֤י כֹהֲנִים֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔אוּ (זקנים) [וּזְקֵנִ֖ים] לֹ֥א חָנָֽנוּ׃ {ס} (יז) (עודינה) [עוֹדֵ֙ינוּ֙] תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה עֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֶל־עֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ הָ֑בֶל בְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּ צִפִּ֔ינוּ אֶל־גּ֖וֹי לֹ֥א יוֹשִֽׁעַ׃ {ס} (יח) צָד֣וּ צְעָדֵ֔ינוּ מִלֶּ֖כֶת בִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ קָרַ֥ב קִצֵּ֛נוּ מָלְא֥וּ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כִּי־בָ֥א קִצֵּֽנוּ׃ {ס} (יט) קַלִּ֤ים הָיוּ֙ רֹדְפֵ֔ינוּ מִנִּשְׁרֵ֖י שָׁמָ֑יִם עַל־הֶהָרִ֣ים דְּלָקֻ֔נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר אָ֥רְבוּ לָֽנוּ׃ {ס} (כ) ר֤וּחַ אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙ מְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה נִלְכַּ֖ד בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְנוּ בְּצִלּ֖וֹ נִֽחְיֶ֥ה בַגּוֹיִֽם׃ {ס} (כא) שִׂ֤ישִׂי וְשִׂמְחִי֙ בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם (יושבתי) [יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת] בְּאֶ֣רֶץ ע֑וּץ גַּם־עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ תַּעֲבׇר־כּ֔וֹס תִּשְׁכְּרִ֖י וְתִתְעָרִֽי׃ {ס} (כב) תַּם־עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖יף לְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְ פָּקַ֤ד עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם גִּלָּ֖ה עַל־חַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ׃ {פ}
(א) זְכֹ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ מֶֽה־הָ֣יָה לָ֔נוּ (הביט) [הַבִּ֖יטָה] וּרְאֵ֥ה אֶת־חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃ (ב) נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה לְזָרִ֔ים בָּתֵּ֖ינוּ לְנׇכְרִֽים׃ (ג) יְתוֹמִ֤ים הָיִ֙ינוּ֙ (אין) [וְאֵ֣ין] אָ֔ב אִמֹּתֵ֖ינוּ כְּאַלְמָנֽוֹת׃ (ד) מֵימֵ֙ינוּ֙ בְּכֶ֣סֶף שָׁתִ֔ינוּ עֵצֵ֖ינוּ בִּמְחִ֥יר יָבֹֽאוּ׃ (ה) עַ֤ל צַוָּארֵ֙נוּ֙ נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ יָגַ֖עְנוּ (לא) [וְלֹ֥א] הֽוּנַֽח־לָֽנוּ׃ (ו) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ נָתַ֣נּוּ יָ֔ד אַשּׁ֖וּר לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ לָֽחֶם׃ (ז) אֲבֹתֵ֤ינוּ חָֽטְאוּ֙ (אינם) [וְאֵינָ֔ם] (אנחנו) [וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ] עֲוֺנֹתֵיהֶ֥ם סָבָֽלְנוּ׃ (ח) עֲבָדִים֙ מָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֔נוּ פֹּרֵ֖ק אֵ֥ין מִיָּדָֽם׃ (ט) בְּנַפְשֵׁ֙נוּ֙ נָבִ֣יא לַחְמֵ֔נוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י חֶ֥רֶב הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (י) עוֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ כְּתַנּ֣וּר נִכְמָ֔רוּ מִפְּנֵ֖י זַלְעֲפ֥וֹת רָעָֽב׃ (יא) נָשִׁים֙ בְּצִיּ֣וֹן עִנּ֔וּ בְּתֻלֹ֖ת בְּעָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃ (יב) שָׂרִים֙ בְּיָדָ֣ם נִתְל֔וּ פְּנֵ֥י זְקֵנִ֖ים לֹ֥א נֶהְדָּֽרוּ׃ (יג) בַּחוּרִים֙ טְח֣וֹן נָשָׂ֔אוּ וּנְעָרִ֖ים בָּעֵ֥ץ כָּשָֽׁלוּ׃ (יד) זְקֵנִים֙ מִשַּׁ֣עַר שָׁבָ֔תוּ בַּחוּרִ֖ים מִנְּגִינָתָֽם׃ (טו) שָׁבַת֙ מְשׂ֣וֹשׂ לִבֵּ֔נוּ נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ לְאֵ֖בֶל מְחֹלֵֽנוּ׃ (טז) נָֽפְלָה֙ עֲטֶ֣רֶת רֹאשֵׁ֔נוּ אֽוֹי־נָ֥א לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י חָטָֽאנוּ׃ (יז) עַל־זֶ֗ה הָיָ֤ה דָוֶה֙ לִבֵּ֔נוּ עַל־אֵ֖לֶּה חָשְׁכ֥וּ עֵינֵֽינוּ׃ (יח) עַ֤ל הַר־צִיּוֹן֙ שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם שׁוּעָלִ֖ים הִלְּכוּ־בֽוֹ׃ {פ}
(יט) אַתָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לְעוֹלָ֣ם תֵּשֵׁ֔ב כִּסְאֲךָ֖ לְד֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃ (כ) לָ֤מָּה לָנֶ֙צַח֙ תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔נוּ תַּֽעַזְבֵ֖נוּ לְאֹ֥רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ (כא) הֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּ יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (ונשוב) [וְֽנָשׁ֔וּבָה] חַדֵּ֥שׁ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כְּקֶֽדֶם׃ (כב) כִּ֚י אִם־מָאֹ֣ס מְאַסְתָּ֔נוּ קָצַ֥פְתָּ עָלֵ֖ינוּ עַד־מְאֹֽד׃
השיבנו יהוה אליך ונשובה חדש ימינו כקדם
Lonely sits the city
Once great with people!
She that was great among nations
Is become like a widow;
The princess among states
Is become a thrall. (2) Bitterly she weeps in the night,
Her cheek wet with tears.
There is none to comfort her
Of all her friends.
All her allies have betrayed her;
They have become her foes. (3) Judah has gone into exile
Because of misery and harsh oppression;
When she settled among the nations,
She found no rest;
All her pursuers overtook her
bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.In the narrow places.-b (4) Zion’s roads are in mourning,
Empty of festival pilgrims;
All her gates are deserted.
Her priests sigh,
Her maidens are unhappy—
She is utterly disconsolate! (5) Her enemies are now the masters,
Her foes are at ease,
Because the LORD has afflicted her
For her many transgressions;
Her infants have gone into captivity
Before the enemy.
(6) Gone from Fair Zion are all
That were her glory;
Her leaders were like stags
That found no pasture;
They could only walk feebly
Before the pursuer.
(7) All the precious things she had
In the days of old
Jerusalem recalled
In her days of woe and sorrow,
When her people fell by enemy hands
With none to help her;
When enemies looked on and gloated
Over her downfall. (8) Jerusalem has greatly sinned,
Therefore she is become a mockery.
All who admired her despise her,
For they have seen her disgraced;
And she can only sigh
And shrink back. (9) Her uncleanness clings to her skirts.
She gave no thought to her future;
She has sunk appallingly,
With none to comfort her.—
See, O LORD, my misery;
How the enemy jeers! (10) The foe has laid hands
On everything dear to her.
She has seen her Sanctuary
Invaded by nations
Which You have denied admission
Into Your community. (11) All her inhabitants sigh
As they search for bread;
They have bartered their treasures for food,
To keep themselves alive.—
See, O LORD, and behold,
cOr (ironically) “What a glutton”; cf. Prov. 23.20–21.How abject-c I have become!
(12) bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.May it never befall you,-b
All who pass along the road—
Look about and see:
Is there any agony like mine,
Which was dealt out to me
When the LORD afflicted me
On His day of wrath? (13) From above He sent a fire
Down into my bones.
He spread a net for my feet,
He hurled me backward;
He has left me forlorn,
In constant misery. (14) dMeaning of parts of vv. 14 and 15 uncertain.The yoke of my offenses is bound fast,
Lashed tight by His hand;
Imposed upon my neck,
It saps my strength;
The Lord has delivered me into the hands
Of those I cannot withstand. (15) The Lord in my midst has rejected
All my heroes;
He has proclaimed a set time against me
To crush my young men.
As in a press the Lord has trodden
Fair Maiden Judah. (16) For these things do I weep,
My eyes flow with tears:
Far from me is any comforter
Who might revive my spirit;
My children are forlorn,
For the foe has prevailed. (17) Zion spreads out her hands,
She has no one to comfort her;
The LORD has summoned against Jacob
His enemies all about him;
Jerusalem has become among them
A thing unclean. (18) The LORD is in the right,
For I have disobeyed Him.
Hear, all you peoples,
And behold my agony:
My maidens and my youths
Have gone into captivity! (19) I cried out to my friends,
But they played me false.
My priests and my elders
Have perished in the city
As they searched for food
To keep themselves alive. (20) See, O LORD, the distress I am in!
My heart is in anguish,
eLit. “My heart has turned over within me”; cf. Exod. 14.5; Hos. 11.8.I know how wrong I was-e
To disobey.
Outside the sword deals death;
Indoors, the plague. (21) When they heard how I was sighing,
There was none to comfort me;
All my foes heard of my plight and exulted.
For it is Your doing:
fEmendation yields “Oh, bring on them what befell me, / And let them become like me!”You have brought on the day that You threatened.
Oh, let them become like me!-f (22) Let all their wrongdoing come before You,
And deal with them
As You have dealt with me
For all my transgressions.
For my sighs are many,
And my heart is sick. (1) Alas!
The Lord in His wrath
Has shamedaMeaning of Heb. uncertain. Fair Zion,
Has cast down from heaven to earth
The majesty of Israel.
He did not remember His FootstoolbI.e., the Temple.
On His day of wrath. (2) The Lord has laid waste without pity
All the habitations of Jacob;
He has razed in His anger
Fair Judah’s strongholds.
He has brought low in dishonor
The kingdom and its leaders. (3) In blazing anger He has cut down
All the might of Israel;
He has withdrawn His right hand
In the presence of the foe;
He has ravaged Jacob like flaming fire,
Consuming on all sides. (4) He bent His bow like an enemy,
Poised His right hand like a foe;
He slew all who delighted the eye.
He poured out His wrath like fire
In the Tent of Fair Zion. (5) The Lord has acted like a foe,
He has laid waste Israel,
Laid waste all her citadels,
Destroyed her strongholds.
He has increased within Fair Judah
Mourning and moaning. (6) He has stripped His BoothbI.e., the Temple. like a garden,
He has destroyed His Tabernacle;cLit. “(Tent of) Meeting.”
The LORD has ended in Zion
Festival and sabbath;
In His raging anger He has spurned
King and priest.
(7) The Lord has rejected His altar,
Disdained His Sanctuary.
He has handed over to the foe
The walls of its citadels;
They raised a shout in the House of the LORD
As on a festival day. (8) The LORD resolved to destroy
The wall of Fair Zion;
dI.e., He made His plans.He measured with a line,-d refrained not
From bringing destruction.
He has made wall and rampart to mourn,
Together they languish. (9) Her gates have sunk into the ground,
He has smashed her bars to bits;
Her king and her leaders are eLit. “among the nations.”in exile,-e
InstructionfHeb. torah, here priestly instruction; cf. Jer. 18.18; Hag. 2.11; Mal. 2.6. is no more;
Her prophets, too, receive
No vision from the LORD. (10) Silent sit on the ground
The elders of Fair Zion;
They have strewn dust on their heads
And girded themselves with sackcloth;
The maidens of Jerusalem have bowed
Their heads to the ground. (11) My eyes are spent with tears,
My heart is in tumult,
gLit. “My liver spills on the ground.”My being melts away-g
Over the ruin of hLit. “the daughter of my people”; so elsewhere in poetry.my poor people,-h
As babes and sucklings languish
In the squares of the city. (12) They keep asking their mothers,
“Where is bread and wine?”
As they languish like battle-wounded
In the squares of the town,
As their life runs out
In their mothers’ bosoms. (13) What can I iEmendation yields “compare.”take as witness-i or liken
To you, O Fair Jerusalem?
What can I match with you to console you,
O Fair Maiden Zion?
For your ruin is vast as the sea:
Who can heal you? (14) Your seers prophesied to you
Delusion and folly.
They did not expose your iniquity
So as to restore your fortunes,
But prophesied to you oracles
Of delusion and deception. (15) All who pass your way
Clap their hands at you;
They hiss and wag their head
At Fair Jerusalem:jThese gestures were intended to ward off the calamity from the viewer; cf., e.g., Jer. 18.16 and note; Job 27.23.
“Is this the city that was called
Perfect in Beauty,
Joy of All the Earth?” (16) All your enemies
Jeer at you;
They hiss and gnash their teeth,
And cry: “We’ve ruined her!
Ah, this is the day we hoped for;
kLit. “We have attained, we have seen.”We have lived to see it!”-k
(17) The LORD has done what He purposed,
Has carried out the decree
That He ordained long ago;
He has torn down without pity.
He has let the foe rejoice over you,
Has exalted the might of your enemies. (18) lEmendation yields “Cry aloud.”Their heart cried out-l to the Lord.
O wall of Fair Zion,
Shed tears like a torrent
Day and night!
Give yourself no respite,
Your eyes no rest.
(19) Arise, cry out in the night
At the beginning of the watches,
Pour out your heart like water
In the presence of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to Him
For the life of your infants,
Who faint for hunger
At every street corner.
(20) See, O LORD, and behold,
To whom You have done this!
Alas, women eat their own fruit,
Their new-bornmThe root has this meaning in Arabic; others “dandled.” babes!
Alas, priest and prophet are slain
In the Sanctuary of the Lord! (21) Prostrate in the streets lie
Both young and old.
My maidens and youths
Are fallen by the sword;
You slew them on Your day of wrath,
You slaughtered without pity. (22) You summoned, as on a festival,
My neighbors from round about.
On the day of the wrath of the LORD,
None survived or escaped;
Those whom I boremThe root has this meaning in Arabic; others “dandled.” and reared
My foe has consumed. (1) I am the man aEmendation yields “whom the Lord has shepherded with.”who has known affliction
Under-a the rod of His wrath; (2) Me He drove on and on
In unrelieved darkness; (3) On none but me He brings down His hand
Again and again, without cease. (4) He has worn away my flesh and skin;
He has shattered my bones. (5) All around me He has built
MiserybTaking rosh as equivalent to resh. and hardship; (6) He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those long dead. (7) He has walled me in and I cannot break out;
He has weighed me down with chains. (8) And when I cry and plead,
He shuts out my prayer; (9) He has walled in my ways with hewn blocks,
He has made my paths a maze.
(10) He is a lurking bear to me,
A lion in hiding; (11) cMeaning of Heb. uncertain.He has forced me off my way-c and mangled me,
He has left me numb. (12) He has bent His bow and made me
The target of His arrows: (13) He has shot into my vitals
The shafts of His quiver. (14) I have become a laughingstock to all people,
The butt of their gibes all day long. (15) He has filled me with bitterness,
Sated me with wormwood.
(16) He has broken my teeth on gravel,
Has ground me into the dust. (17) My life was bereft of peace,
I forgot what happiness was. (18) I thought my strength and hope
Had perished before the LORD. (19) To recall my distress and my misery
Was wormwood and poison; (20) Whenever I thought of them,
I was bowed low.
(21) But this do I call to mind,
Therefore I have hope: (22) The kindness of the LORD has not ended,
His mercies are not spent. (23) They are renewed every morning—
Ample is Your grace! (24) “The LORD is my portion,” I say with full heart;
Therefore will I hope in Him. (25) The LORD is good to those who trust in Him,
To the one who seeks Him; (26) It is good to wait patiently
Till rescue comes from the LORD. (27) It is good for a man, when young,
To bear a yoke; (28) Let him sit alone and be patient,
When He has laid it upon him. (29) Let him put his mouth to the dust—
There may yet be hope. (30) Let him offer his cheek to the smiter;
Let him be surfeited with mockery. (31) For the Lord does not
Reject forever, (32) But first afflicts, then pardons
In His abundant kindness. (33) For He does not willfully bring grief
Or affliction to man, (34) Crushing under His feet
All the prisoners of the earth. (35) To deny a man his rights
In the presence of the Most High, (36) To wrong a man in his cause—
This the Lord does not choose. (37) Whose decree was ever fulfilled,
Unless the Lord willed it? (38) Is it not at the word of the Most High,
That weal and woe befall? (39) Of what shall a living man complain?
Each one of his own sins!
(40) Let us search and examine our ways,
And turn back to the LORD; (41) Let us lift up our hearts withdLit. “to”; emendation yields “rather than”; cf. Joel 2.13. our hands
To God in heaven: (42) We have transgressed and rebelled,
And You have not forgiven. (43) You have clothed Yourself in anger and pursued us,
You have slain without pity. (44) You have screened Yourself off with a cloud,
That no prayer may pass through. (45) You have made us filth and refuse
In the midst of the peoples. (46) All our enemies loudly
Rail against us. (47) Panic and pitfall are our lot,
Death and destruction. (48) My eyes shed streams of water
Over the ruin of my pooreLit. “the daughter of my”; so frequently in poetry. people.
(49) My eyes shall flow without cease,
Without respite, (50) fEmendation yields: 50“Until the Lord looks down from heaven/ And beholds 51my affliction. / The Lord has brought me grief.”Until the LORD looks down
And beholds from heaven. (51) My eyes have brought me grief-f
Over all the maidens of my city. (52) My foes have snared me like a bird,
Without any cause. (53) They have ended my life in a pit
And cast stones at me. (54) Waters flowed over my head;
I said: I am lost!
(55) I have called on Your name, O LORD,
From the depths of the Pit. (56) Hear my plea;
Do not shut Your ear
To my groan, to my cry! (57) You have ever drawn nigh when I called You;
You have said, “Do not fear!” (58) You championed my cause, O Lord,
You have redeemed my life. (59) You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done me;
Oh, vindicate my right! (60) You have seen all their malice,
All their designs against me; (61) You have heard, O LORD, their taunts,
All their designs against me, (62) The mouthings and pratings of my adversaries
Against me all day long. (63) See how, at their ease or at work,
I am the butt of their gibes. (64) Give them, O LORD, their deserts
According to their deeds. (65) Give them anguishcMeaning of Heb. uncertain. of heart;
Your curse be upon them! (66) Oh, pursue them in wrath and destroy them
From under the heavens of the LORD! (1) Alas!
The gold is dulled,aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.
Debased the finest gold!
The sacredbEmendation yields “precious.” gems are spilled
At every street corner. (2) The precious children of Zion;
Once valued as gold—
Alas, they are accounted as earthen pots,
Work of a potter’s hands! (3) Even jackals offer the breast
And suckle their young;
But my poor people has turned cruel,
Like ostriches of the desert. (4) The tongue of the suckling cleaves
To its palate for thirst.
Little children beg for bread;
None gives them a morsel.
(5) Those who feasted on dainties
Lie famished in the streets;
Those who were reared in purple
Have embraced refuse heaps. (6) The guiltcI.e., punishment. of my poordSee note at 3.48. people
Exceeded the iniquity-c of Sodom,
Which was overthrown in a moment,
Without a hand striking it. (7) Her elect were purer than snow,
Whiter than milk;
Their limbs were ruddier than coral,
Their bodiesaMeaning of Heb. uncertain. were like sapphire. (8) Now their faces are blacker than soot,
They are not recognized in the streets;
Their skin has shriveled on their bones,
It has become dry as wood. (9) Better off were the slain of the sword
Than those slain by famine,
aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Who pined away, [as though] wounded,
For lack of-a the fruits of the field. (10) With their own hands, tenderhearted women
Have cooked their children;
Such became their fare,
In the disaster of my poordSee note at 3.48. people.
(11) The LORD vented all His fury,
Poured out His blazing wrath;
He kindled a fire in Zion
Which consumed its foundations. (12) The kings of the earth did not believe,
Nor any of the inhabitants of the world,
That foe or adversary could enter
The gates of Jerusalem. (13) It was for the sins of her prophets,
The iniquities of her priests,
Who had shed in her midst
The blood of the just.
(14) They wandered blindly through the streets,
Defiled with blood,
So that no one was able
To touch their garments. (15) “Away! Unclean!” people shouted at them,
“Away! Away! Touch not!”
So they wandered and wandered again;
For the nations had resolved:
“They shall stay here no longer.” (16) eMeaning of line uncertain.The LORD’s countenance has turned away from them,
He will look on them no more.
They showed no regard for priests,
No favor to elders. (17) Even now our eyes pine away
In vain for deliverance.
As we waited, still we wait
For a nation that cannot help. (18) Our steps were checked,
We could not walk fOr “With long strides.”in our squares.-f
Our doom is near, our days are done—
Alas, our doom has come! (19) Our pursuers were swifter
Than the eagles in the sky;
They chased us in the mountains,
Lay in wait for us in the wilderness. (20) The breath of our life, the LORD’s anointed,
Was captured in their traps—
He in whose shade we had thought
To live among the nations. (21) Rejoice and exult, Fair Edom,
Who dwell in the land of Uz!
To you, too, the cup shall pass,
You shall get drunk and expose your nakedness. (22) Your iniquity, Fair Zion, is expiated;
He will exile you no longer.
Your iniquity, Fair Edom, He will note;
He will uncover your sins. (1) Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us;
Behold, and see our disgrace! (2) Our heritage has passed to aliens,
Our homes to strangers. (3) We have become orphans, fatherless;
Our mothers are like widows. (4) We must pay to drink our own water,
Obtain our own kindling at a price. (5) We are hotlyaLit. “on our neck”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. pursued;
Exhausted, we are given no rest. (6) We hold out a hand to Egypt;
To Assyria, for our fill of bread. (7) Our fathers sinned and are no more;
And we must bear their guilt. (8) Slaves are ruling over us,
With none to rescue us from them. (9) We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
Because of the bOr “heat (cf. Deut. 28.22) of the wilderness”; meaning of Heb. uncertain.sword of the wilderness.-b (10) Our skin glows like an oven,
With the fever of famine. (11) TheycI.e., the slaves of v. 8. have ravished women in Zion,
Maidens in the towns of Judah. (12) Princes have been hanged by them;cI.e., the slaves of v. 8.
No respect has been shown to elders. (13) Young men must carry millstones,
And youths stagger under loads of wood. (14) The old men are gone from the gate,
The young men from their music. (15) Gone is the joy of our hearts;
Our dancing is turned into mourning. (16) The crown has fallen from our head;
Woe to us that we have sinned!
(17) Because of this our hearts are sick,
Because of these our eyes are dimmed: (18) Because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate;
Jackals prowl over it.
(19) But You, O LORD, are enthroned forever,
Your throne endures through the ages. (20) Why have You forgotten us utterly,
Forsaken us for all time? (21) Take us back, O LORD, to Yourself,
And let us come back;
Renew our days as of old! (22) For truly, You have rejected us,
Bitterly raged against us.
Take us back, O LORD, to Yourself,
And let us come back;
Renew our days as of old!