אֵיכָה

Lamentations — Chapter 3

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Read Lamentations Chapter 3 in Biblical Hebrew alongside the King James Version (KJV) — 66 verses. Original Hebrew text with vowel points (nikud) and full English translation.

1
אֲנִ֧י הַגֶּ֛בֶר רָאָ֥ה עֳנִ֖י בְּשֵׁ֥בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃
KJVI am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath.
2
אוֹתִ֛י נָהַ֥ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא אֽוֹר׃
KJVHe hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
He has driven me and brought me into darkness without any light.
3
אַ֣ךְ בִּ֔י יָשֻׁ֖ב יַהֲפֹ֣ךְ יָד֑וֹ כָּל הַיּֽוֹם׃
KJVSurely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
Surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long.
4
בִּלָּ֧ה בְשָׂרִ֛י וְעוֹרִ֖י שִׁבַּ֥ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃
KJVMy flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
He has made my flesh and my skin waste away; he has broken my bones.
5
בָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃
KJVHe hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
He has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation.
6
בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֖ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֑נִי כְּמֵתֵ֖י עוֹלָֽם׃
KJVHe hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
7
גָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃
KJVHe hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy.
8
גַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃
KJVAlso when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.
9
גָּדַ֥ר דְּרָכַ֖י בְּגָזִ֑ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃
KJVHe hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
He has blocked my ways with blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked.
10
דֹּ֥ב אֹרֵ֛ב ה֖וּא לִ֑י אַ֖רְיֵה בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
KJVHe was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
He is a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding.
11
דְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃
KJVHe hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
He led me off my way and tore me to pieces; he has made me desolate.
12
דָּרַ֣ךְ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֖נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֥א לַחֵֽץ׃
KJVHe hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
He bent his bow and set me as a target for the arrow.
13
הֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיֹתַ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃
KJVHe hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
He drove into my kidneys the arrows of his quiver.
14
הָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹ֙ק֙ לְכָל עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל הַיּֽוֹם׃
KJVI was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
I have become the laughingstock of all peoples, the object of their taunting songs all day long.
15
הִשְׂבִּיעַ֙נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֔ים הִרְוַ֖נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃
KJVHe hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood.
16
וַיַּגְרֵ֥ס בֶּחָצָ֖ץ שִׁנָּ֑י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃
KJVHe hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes.
17
וַתִּזְנַ֥ח מִשָּׁל֖וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י נָשִׁ֖יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃
KJVAnd thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is.
18
וָאֹמַ֕ר אָבַ֥ד נִצְחִ֖י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֥י מֵיְהוָֽה׃
KJVAnd I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
So I say, "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD."
19
זְכָר עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃
KJVRemembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall!
20
זָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר וְתָשׁ֥וֹחַ עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃
KJVMy soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.
21
זֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל לִבִּ֖י עַל כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃
KJVThis I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22
חַסְדֵּ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא תָמְנ֔וּ כִּ֥י לֹא כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃
KJVIt is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.
23
חֲדָשִׁ֥ים לַבְּקָרִ֖ים רַבָּ֥ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
KJVThey are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24
חֶלְקִ֞י יְהוָ֗ה אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃
KJVThe LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
25
טוֹב֙ יְהוָ֔ה לְקֹוָ֖ו לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃
KJVThe LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
26
טוֹב֙ וְיָחִ֔יל וְדוּמָ֖ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
KJVIt is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
27
טוֹב֙ לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּי יִשָּׂ֖א עֹ֥ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃
KJVIt is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28
יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃
KJVHe sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him.
29
יִתֵּ֤ן בֶּעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃
KJVHe putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
Let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope.
30
יִתֵּ֤ן לְמַכֵּ֙הוּ֙ לֶ֔חִי יִשְׂבַּ֖ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃
KJVHe giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.
31
כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃
KJVFor the Lord will not cast off for ever:
For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32
כִּ֣י אִ֥ם הוֹגָ֛ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חֲסָדָֽיו׃
KJVBut though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
But though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
33
כִּ֤י לֹ֥א עִנָּ֛ה מִלִּבּ֖וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֥ה בְנֵי אִֽישׁ׃
KJVFor he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
For he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.
34
לְדַכֵּ֥א תַּ֛חַת רַגְלָ֖יו כֹּ֥ל אֲסִירֵ֖י אָֽרֶץ׃
KJVTo crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,
35
לְהַטּ֛וֹת מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֶּ֖בֶר נֶ֥גֶד פְּנֵ֖י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
KJVTo turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High,
36
לְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃
KJVTo subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
to subvert a man in his lawsuit—the Lord does not approve of these things.
37
מִ֣י זֶ֥ה אָמַ֛ר וַתֶּהִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃
KJVWho is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
38
מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃
KJVOut of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
39
מַה יִּתְאוֹנֵ֥ן אָדָ֖ם חָ֑י גֶּ֖בֶר עַ֥ל חֲטָאֽוֹ׃
KJVWherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?
40
נַחְפְּשָׂ֥ה דְרָכֵ֖ינוּ וְנַחְקֹ֑רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד יְהוָֽה׃
KJVLet us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!
41
נִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ אֶל כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
KJVLet us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven.
42
נַחְנוּ֙ פָשַׁ֣עְנוּ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃
KJVWe have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.
43
סַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃
KJVThou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us, killing without pity.
44
סַכּ֧וֹתָה בֶעָנָ֛ן לָ֖ךְ מֵעֲב֥וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃
KJVThou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
You have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.
45
סְחִ֥י וּמָאוֹס֙ תְּשִׂימֵ֔נוּ בְּקֶ֖רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃
KJVThou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
You have made us scum and garbage among the peoples.
46
פָּצ֤וּ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ פִּיהֶ֔ם כָּל אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃
KJVAll our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
All our enemies open their mouths against us.
47
פַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃
KJVFear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
Panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction.
48
פַּלְגֵי מַ֤יִם תֵּרַ֙ד עֵינִ֔י עַל שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת עַמִּֽי׃
KJVMine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Streams of tears run down my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49
עֵינִ֤י נִגְּרָה֙ וְלֹ֣א תִדְמֶ֔ה מֵ֖אֵין הֲפֻגֹּֽת׃
KJVMine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite,
50
עַד יַשְׁקִ֥יף וְיֵ֖רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
KJVTill the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
until the LORD looks down and sees from heaven.
51
עֵינִ֣י עֹֽלְלָ֔ה לְנַפְשִׁ֖י מִכֹּ֥ל בְּנ֖וֹת עִירִֽי׃
KJVMine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
My eyes cause me grief because of all the daughters of my city.
52
צוֹד֤ צָדַ֙נִי֙ כַּצִּפּ֔וֹר אֹיְבַ֖י חִנָּֽם׃
KJVMine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
My enemies hunted me like a bird, without cause.
53
צָמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּ֖וּ אֶ֥בֶן בִּֽי׃
KJVThey have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
They flung me alive into the pit and cast stones on me.
54
צָפוּ מַ֤יִם עַל רֹאשִׁ֔י אָמַ֖רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃
KJVWaters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
Water closed over my head; I said, "I am lost."
55
קָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃
KJVI called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit.
56
קוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃
KJVThou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
You heard my plea; do not close your ear to my cry for help!
57
קָרַ֣בְתָּ בְּי֤וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֙ךָּ֙ אָמַ֣רְתָּ אַל תִּירָֽא׃
KJVThou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
You came near when I called on you; you said, "Do not fear!"
58
רַ֤בְתָּ אֲדֹנָי֙ רִיבֵ֣י נַפְשִׁ֔י גָּאַ֖לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃
KJVO Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.
59
רָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּתָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃
KJVO LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; judge my cause.
60
רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כָּל נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃
KJVThou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me.
61
שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃
KJVThou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
You have heard their taunts, O LORD, all their plots against me.
62
שִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל הַיּֽוֹם׃
KJVThe lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
The lips and thoughts of my assailants are against me all day long.
63
שִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃
KJVBehold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
Behold their sitting and their rising; I am the object of their taunting songs.
64
תָּשִׁ֤יב לָהֶם֙ גְּמ֔וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃
KJVRender unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
You will repay them, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
65
תִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֛ם מְגִנַּת לֵ֖ב תַּאֲלָתְךָ֥ לָהֶֽם׃
KJVGive them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
You will give them dullness of heart; your curse will be on them.
66
תִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
KJVPersecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
You will pursue them in anger and destroy them from under your heavens, O LORD.
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