The Prophet’s Afflictions

1  אֲנִ֤י (I am) הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ (the man) רָאָ֣ה (who has seen) עֳנִ֔י (affliction)

בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט (by the rod) עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ (of His wrath).

2  אוֹתִ֥י (Me) נָהַ֛ג (He has led) וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ (and has made walk) חֹ֥שֶׁךְ (in darkness),

וְלֹא־ (and not) אֽוֹר׃ (light).

3  אַ֣ךְ (Surely) בִּ֥י (against me) יָשֻׁ֛ב (He turns back);

יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ (He turns over) יָד֖וֹ (His hand) כָּל־ (all) הַיּֽוֹם׃ס (the day).

4  בִּלָּ֤ה (He has worn out); בְשָׂרִי֙ (my flesh) וְעוֹרִ֔י (and my skin)

שִׁבַּ֖ר (he has broken) עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃ (my bones).

5  בָּנָ֥ה (He has built up) עָלַ֛י (against me)

וַיַּקַּ֖ף (and surrounded me) רֹ֥אשׁ (with bitterness) וּתְלָאָֽה׃ (and weariness).

6  בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים (In dark places), הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי (He has settled me)

כְּמֵתֵ֥י (like the dead) עוֹלָֽם׃ס (of old).

7  גָּדַ֧ר (He has put a hedge) בַּעֲדִ֛י (around me), וְלֹ֥א (so that not) אֵצֵ֖א (I can get out);

הִכְבִּ֥יד (He has made heavy) נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃ (my chain of bronze).

8  גַּ֣ם (Even) כִּ֤י (when) אֶזְעַק֙ (I cry out) וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ (and call for help),

שָׂתַ֖ם (He shuts out) תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ (my prayer).

9  גָּדַ֤ר (He has blocked off) דְּרָכַי֙ (my ways) בְּגָזִ֔ית (with cut stone),

נְתִיבֹתַ֖י (my paths) עִוָּֽה׃ס (He has made crooked).

10  דֹּ֣ב (A bear) אֹרֵ֥ב (lying in ambush), הוּא֙ (He is) לִ֔י (to me)

אַרְיֵה (a lion) בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃ (in hiding places).

11  דְּרָכַ֥י (My ways), סוֹרֵ֛ר (He has turned aside) וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי (and has torn me apart);

שָׂמַ֥נִי (He has set me) שֹׁמֵֽם׃ (as a desolation).

12  דָּרַ֤ךְ (He has bent) קַשְׁתוֹ֙ (His bow),

וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי (and stood me up) כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א (as the target) לַחֵֽץ׃ס (for an arrow).

13  הֵבִיא֙ (He has brought) בְּכִלְיוֹתָ֔י (into my kidneys)

בְּנֵ֖י (the sons) אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃ (of His quiver).

14  הָיִ֤יתִי (I have become) שְּׂחֹק֙ (a laughingstock) לְכָל־ (to all) עַמִּ֔י (my people);

נְגִינָתָ֖ם (their taunt) כָּל־ (all) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (the day).

15  הִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי (He has filled me) בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים (with bitterness),

הִרְוַ֥נִי (He has made me drink) לַעֲנָֽה׃ס (wormwood).

16  וַיַּגְרֵ֤ס (And He has broken) בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ (with gravel), שִׁנָּ֔י (my teeth)

הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי (He has covered me) בָּאֵֽפֶר׃ (with ashes).

17  וַתִּזְנַ֧ח (And has been rejected) מִשָּׁל֛וֹם (from peace); נַפְשִׁ֖י (my soul)

נָשִׁ֥יתִי (I have forgotten) טוֹבָֽה׃ (good).

18  וָאֹמַר֙ (So that I say), אָבַ֣ד (As has perished) נִצְחִ֔י (my strength)

וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י (and also my hope) מֵיְהוָֽה׃ס (from YHWH).

The Prophet’s Hope

19  זְכָר־ (Remember) עָנְיִ֥י (my affliction) וּמְרוּדִ֖י (and my wandering),

לַעֲנָ֥ה (the wormwood) וָרֹֽאשׁ׃ (and the gall).

20  זָכ֣וֹר (Remembering) תִּזְכּ֔וֹר (it remembers), וְתָשִׁיחַ (and sinks)

עָלַ֖י (within me) נַפְשִֽׁי׃ (My soul).

21  זֹ֛את (This) אָשִׁ֥יב (I turn) אֶל־ (to) לִבִּ֖י (my mind),

עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֥ן (thus) אוֹחִֽיל׃ס (I have hope).

22  חַֽסְדֵ֤י (The loving devotion) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) כִּ֣י (it is that) לֹא־ (not) תָ֔מְנוּ (we are finished),

כִּ֥י (for) לֹא־ (not) כָל֖וּ (are finished) רַחֲמָֽיו׃ (His mercies).

23  חֲדָשִׁים֙ (They are new) לַבְּקָרִ֔ים (in the mornings);

רַבָּ֖ה (great is) אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃ (Your faithfulness).

24  חֶלְקִ֤י (My portion is), יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אָמְרָ֣ה (says) נַפְשִׁ֔י (my soul);

עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֖ן (thus) אוֹחִ֥יל (do I hope) לֽוֹ׃ס (in Him).

25  ט֤וֹב (Good is) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לְקוָֹ֔ו (to those waiting for Him)

לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ (to the soul) תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃ (who seeks Him).

26  ט֤וֹב (And it is good) וְיָחִיל֙ (to wait) וְדוּמָ֔ם (and be silent)

לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת (for the salvation) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

27  ט֣וֹב (It is good) לַגֶּ֔בֶר (for a man) כִּֽי־ (that) יִשָּׂ֥א (he should bear) עֹ֖ל (the yoke)

בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃ס (in his youth).

28  יֵשֵׁ֤ב (Let him sit) בָּדָד֙ (alone) וְיִדֹּ֔ם (and be silent),

כִּ֥י (when) נָטַ֖ל (it is laid) עָלָֽיו׃ (upon him).

29  יִתֵּ֤ן (Let him put) בֶּֽעָפָר֙ (in the dust); פִּ֔יהוּ (his mouth)

אוּלַ֖י (perhaps) יֵ֥שׁ (there is) תִּקְוָֽה׃ (hope).

30  יִתֵּ֧ן (Let him give) לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ (to the one striking him) לֶ֖חִי (his cheek)

יִשְׂבַּ֥ע (let him be filled) בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ס (with reproach).

31  כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֥א (not) יִזְנַ֛ח (reject us) לְעוֹלָ֖ם (forever),

אֲדֹנָֽי׃ (the Lord).

32  כִּ֣י (For) אִם־ (though) הוֹגָ֔ה (He may bring grief),

וְרִחַ֖ם (and He will show compassion) כְּרֹ֥ב (according to the abundance) חַסְדּוֹ׃ (of His loving devotion).

33  כִּ֣י (For) לֹ֤א (he has not) עִנָּה֙ (afflicted) מִלִּבּ֔וֹ (with His heart)

וַיַּגֶּ֖ה (or grieved) בְנֵי־ (the sons) אִֽישׁ׃ס (of man).

34  לְדַכֵּא֙ (To crush) תַּ֣חַת (under) רַגְלָ֔יו (one’s feet)

כֹּ֖ל (all) אֲסִ֥ירֵי (the prisoners) אָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth),

35  לְהַטּוֹת֙ (to stretch aside) מִשְׁפַּט־ (justice for) גָּ֔בֶר (a man)

נֶ֖גֶד (before) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ (of the Most High),

36  לְעַוֵּ֤ת (to subvert) אָדָם֙ (a man) בְּרִיב֔וֹ (in his cause),

אֲדֹנָ֖י (the Lord) לֹ֥א (not) רָאָֽה׃ס (approve).

God’s Justice

37  מִ֣י (Who is) זֶ֤ה (this) אָמַר֙ (having spoken), וַתֶּ֔הִי (and it came to pass),

אֲדֹנָ֖י (if the Lord) לֹ֥א (did not) צִוָּֽה׃ (command it)?

38  מִפִּ֤י (From the mouth) עֶלְיוֹן֙ (of the Most High) לֹ֣א (does not) תֵצֵ֔א (come forth)

הָרָע֖וֹת (the bad) וְהַטּֽוֹב׃ (and the good)?

39  מַה־ (Why) יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ (should complain), אָדָ֣ם (a man) חָ֔י (living)

גֶּ֖בֶר (a man) עַל־ (for) חֶטְאוֹ׃ס (his sins)?

40  נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה (Let us search out) דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our ways), וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה (and let us seek)

וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה (and turn back) עַד־ (to) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

41  נִשָּׂ֤א (Let us lift) לְבָבֵ֙נוּ֙ (our heart) אֶל־ (with) כַּפָּ֔יִם (our hands)

אֶל־ (to) אֵ֖ל (God) בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (in the heavens).

42  נַ֤חְנוּ (We) פָשַׁ֙עְנוּ֙ (have transgressed) וּמָרִ֔ינוּ (and we have rebelled),

אַתָּ֖ה (You) לֹ֥א (not) סָלָֽחְתָּ׃ס (have forgiven).

43  סַכֹּ֤תָה (You have covered) בָאַף֙ (in anger), וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ (and pursued us)

הָרַ֖גְתָּ (You have killed), לֹ֥א (not) חָמָֽלְתָּ׃ (you have pitied).

44  סַכּ֤וֹתָה (You have covered) בֶֽעָנָן֙ (with a cloud), לָ֔ךְ (Yourself)

מֵעֲב֖וֹר (from passing through) תְּפִלָּֽה׃ (a prayer).

45  סְחִ֧י (Offscouring) וּמָא֛וֹס (and refuse) תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ (You have made us)

בְּקֶ֥רֶב (in the midst) הָעַמִּֽים׃ס (of the nations).

46  פָּצ֥וּ (They have opened) עָלֵ֛ינוּ (against us) פִּיהֶ֖ם (their mouths)

כָּל־ (all) אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ (our enemies).

47  פַּ֧חַד (Terror) וָפַ֛חַת (and pitfall) הָ֥יָה (have come) לָ֖נוּ (upon us)

הַשֵּׁ֥את (desolation) וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃ (and destruction).

48  פַּלְגֵי־ (Streams) מַ֙יִם֙ (of water) תֵּרַ֣ד (run down) עֵינִ֔י (my eyes)

עַל־ (over) שֶׁ֖בֶר (the destruction) בַּת־ (of the daughter) עַמִּֽי׃ס (of my people).

49  עֵינִ֧י (My eye) נִגְּרָ֛ה (pours forth), וְלֹ֥א (and not), תִדְמֶ֖ה (does it cease)

מֵאֵ֥ין (without) הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃ (numbing),

50  עַד־ (until) יַשְׁקִ֣יף (looks down), וְיֵ֔רֶא (and sees) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH)

מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (from the heavens).

51  עֵינִי֙ (My eye) עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה (bring grief) לְנַפְשִׁ֔י (to my soul)

מִכֹּ֖ל (because of all) בְּנ֥וֹת (the daughters) עִירִֽי׃ס (of my city).

52  צ֥וֹד (Hunting) צָד֛וּנִי (have hunted me), כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר (like a bird), אֹיְבַ֥י (my enemies)

חִנָּֽם׃ (without cause).

53  צָֽמְת֤וּ (They have cut off) בַבּוֹר֙ (in the pit), חַיָּ֔י (my life)

וַיַּדּוּ־ (and they threw) אֶ֖בֶן (stones) בִּֽי׃ (at me).

54  צָֽפוּ־ (Flowed) מַ֥יִם (the waters) עַל־ (over) רֹאשִׁ֖י (my head);

אָמַ֥רְתִּי (I said), נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ס (I have been cut off).

55  קָרָ֤אתִי (I called on) שִׁמְךָ֙ (Your name), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH),

מִבּ֖וֹר (from the Pit) תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃ (out of the depths).

56  קוֹלִ֖י (My voice), שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ (You heard)

אַל־ (do not) תַּעְלֵ֧ם (hide) אָזְנְךָ֛ (Your ear) לְרַוְחָתִ֖י (from my sighing), לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃ (from my cry).

57  קָרַ֙בְתָּ֙ (You drew near) בְּי֣וֹם (on the day) אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ (I called you)

אָמַ֖רְתָּ (you said), אַל־ (Do not) תִּירָֽא׃ס (fear).

58  רַ֧בְתָּ (You have pleaded) אֲדֹנָ֛י (O Lord), רִיבֵ֥י (the pleadings) נַפְשִׁ֖י (of my soul);

גָּאַ֥לְתָּ (You have redeemed) חַיָּֽי׃ (my life).

59  רָאִ֤יתָה (You have seen) יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י (the wrong done to me);

שָׁפְטָ֖ה (vindicate) מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃ (my cause).

60  רָאִ֙יתָה֙ (You have seen) כָּל־ (all) נִקְמָתָ֔ם (their vengeance)

כָּל־ (all) מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם (their plots) לִֽי׃ס (against me).

61  שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ (You have heard) חֶרְפָּתָם֙ (their taunt), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH),

כָּל־ (all) מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם (their plots) עָלָֽי׃ (against me).

62  שִׂפְתֵ֤י (The lips) קָמַי֙ (of my assailants)

וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם (and their murmuring) עָלַ֖י (against me) כָּל־ (all) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (the day).

63  שִׁבְתָּ֤ם (Their sitting down), וְקִֽימָתָם֙ (and their rising up);

הַבִּ֔יטָה (Look) אֲנִ֖י (I am) מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃ס (their mocking song).

64  תָּשִׁ֨יב (May You repay) לָהֶ֥ם (to them) גְּמ֛וּל (a recompense), יְהוָ֖ה (O YHWH),

כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה (according to the work) יְדֵיהֶֽם׃ (of their hands).

65  תִּתֵּ֤ן (May You give) לָהֶם֙ (to them) מְגִנַּת־ (a covering for) לֵ֔ב (the heart),

תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ (Your curse be) לָהֶֽם׃ (upon them).

66  תִּרְדֹּ֤ף (May You pursue them) בְּאַף֙ (in Your anger) וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם (and destroy them)

מִתַּ֖חַת (from under) שְׁמֵ֥י (the heavens) יְהוָֽה׃פ (O of YHWH).