Lamentations 3 (Eichah) in Hebrew and English

3:1I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.

אאֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֨בֶר֙ רָאָ֣ה עֳנִ֔י בְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃

3:2He has led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

באוֹתִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַיֹּלַ֖ךְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אֽוֹר׃

3:3Surely against me is He turned; He turns His hand against me all the day.

גאַ֣ךְ בִּ֥י יָשֻׁ֛ב יַהֲפֹ֥ךְ יָד֖וֹ כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

3:4My flesh and my skin has He made old; He has broken my bones.

דבִּלָּ֤ה בְשָׂרִי֙ וְעוֹרִ֔י שִׁבַּ֖ר עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃

3:5He has builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

הבָּנָ֥ה עָלַ֛י וַיַּקַּ֖ף רֹ֥אשׁ וּתְלָאָֽה׃

3:6He has set me in dark places, as they that are dead of old.

ובְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃

3:7He has hedged me about, that I cannot get out: He has made my chain heavy.

זגָּדַ֧ר בַּעֲדִ֛י וְלֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א הִכְבִּ֥יד נְחָשְׁתִּֽי׃

3:8Also when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer.

חגַּ֣ם כִּ֤י אֶזְעַק֙ וַאֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ שָׂתַ֖ם תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃

3:9He has inclosed my ways with hewn stone, He has made my paths crooked.

טגָּדַ֤ר דְּרָכַי֙ בְּגָזִ֔ית נְתִיבֹתַ֖י עִוָּֽה׃

3:10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

ידֹּ֣ב אֹרֵ֥ב הוּא֙ לִ֔י אֲרִ֖י (כתיב אריה) בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃

3:11He has turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: He has made me desolate.

יאדְּרָכַ֥י סוֹרֵ֛ר וַֽיְפַשְּׁחֵ֖נִי שָׂמַ֥נִי שֹׁמֵֽם׃

3:12He has bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

יבדָּרַ֤ךְ קַשְׁתוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃

3:13He has caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins.

יגהֵבִיא֙ בְּכִלְיוֹתָ֔י בְּנֵ֖י אַשְׁפָּתֽוֹ׃

3:14I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

ידהָיִ֤יתִי שְּׂחֹק֙ לְכָל־עַמִּ֔י נְגִינָתָ֖ם כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

3:15He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drunken with wormwood.

טוהִשְׂבִּיעַ֥נִי בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃

3:16He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He has covered me with ashes.

טזוַיַּגְרֵ֤ס בֶּֽחָצָץ֙ שִׁנָּ֔י הִכְפִּישַׁ֖נִי בָּאֵֽפֶר׃

3:17And You have removed my soul far off from peace: I forgot prosperity.

יזוַתִּזְנַ֧ח מִשָּׁל֛וֹם נַפְשִׁ֖י נָשִׁ֥יתִי טוֹבָֽה׃

3:18And I said, “My strength and my hope is perished from Hashem.”

יחוָאֹמַר֙ אָבַ֣ד נִצְחִ֔י וְתוֹחַלְתִּ֖י מֵיְהוָֽה׃

3:19Remembering my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

יטזְכָר־עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃

3:20My soul has them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

כזָכ֣וֹר תִּזְכּ֔וֹר וְתָשׁ֥וֹחַ (כתיב ותשיח) עָלַ֖י נַפְשִֽׁי׃

3:21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

כאזֹ֛את אָשִׁ֥יב אֶל־לִבִּ֖י עַל־כֵּ֥ן אוֹחִֽיל׃

3:22It is of Hashem’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

כבחַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃

3:23They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness.

כגחֲדָשִׁים֙ לַבְּקָרִ֔ים רַבָּ֖ה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃

3:24“Hashem is my portion,” says my soul; “therefore will I hope in Him.”

כדחֶלְקִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אָמְרָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י עַל־כֵּ֖ן אוֹחִ֥יל לֽוֹ׃

3:25Hashem is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.

כהט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ לְקוָֹ֔ו לְנֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁנּוּ׃

3:26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Hashem.

כוט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהוָֽה׃

3:27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

כזט֣וֹב לַגֶּ֔בֶר כִּֽי־יִשָּׂ֥א עֹ֖ל בִּנְעוּרָֽיו׃

3:28He sits alone and keeps silence, because he has borne it upon him.

כחיֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּדָד֙ וְיִדֹּ֔ם כִּ֥י נָטַ֖ל עָלָֽיו׃

3:29He puts his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

כטיִתֵּ֤ן בֶּֽעָפָר֙ פִּ֔יהוּ אוּלַ֖י יֵ֥שׁ תִּקְוָֽה׃

3:30He gives his cheek to him that strikes him: he is filled full with reproach.

ליִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃

3:31For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

לאכִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃

3:32But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

לבכִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חֲסָדָֽיו (כתיב חסדו)׃

3:33For He does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

לגכִּ֣י לֹ֤א עִנָּה֙ מִלִּבּ֔וֹ וַיַּגֶּ֖ה בְנֵי־אִֽישׁ׃

3:34To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,

לדלְדַכֵּא֙ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל אֲסִ֥ירֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

3:35To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

להלְהַטּוֹת֙ מִשְׁפַּט־גָּ֔בֶר נֶ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֥י עֶלְיֽוֹן׃

3:36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approves not.

לולְעַוֵּ֤ת אָדָם֙ בְּרִיב֔וֹ אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃

3:37Who is he that says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord commands it not?

לזמִ֣י זֶ֤ה אָמַר֙ וַתֶּ֔הִי אֲדֹנָ֖י לֹ֥א צִוָּֽה׃

3:38Out of the mouth of the Most High proceeds not evil and good?

לחמִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃

3:39Wherefore does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

לטמַה־יִּתְאוֹנֵן֙ אָדָ֣ם חָ֔י גֶּ֖בֶר עַל־חֲטָאָֽיו (כתיב חטאו)׃

3:40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Hashem.

מנַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה דְרָכֵ֨ינוּ֙ וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יְהוָֽה׃

3:41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

מאנִשָּׂ֤א לְבָבֵ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־כַּפָּ֔יִם אֶל־אֵ֖ל בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

3:42We have transgressed and have rebelled: You have not pardoned.

מבנַ֤חְנוּ פָשַׁ֨עְנוּ֙ וּמָרִ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א סָלָֽחְתָּ׃

3:43You have covered with anger, and persecuted us: You have slain, You have not pitied.

מגסַכֹּ֤תָה בָאַף֙ וַֽתִּרְדְּפֵ֔נוּ הָרַ֖גְתָּ לֹ֥א חָמָֽלְתָּ׃

3:44You have covered Yourself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

מדסַכּ֤וֹתָה בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲב֖וֹר תְּפִלָּֽה׃

3:45You have made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.

מהסְחִ֧י וּמָא֛וֹס תְּשִׂימֵ֖נוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעַמִּֽים׃

3:46All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

מופָּצ֥וּ עָלֵ֛ינוּ פִּיהֶ֖ם כָּל־אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

3:47Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

מזפַּ֧חַד וָפַ֛חַת הָ֥יָה לָ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְהַשָּֽׁבֶר׃

3:48My eye runs down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

מחפַּלְגֵי־מַ֨יִם֙ תֵּרַ֣ד עֵינִ֔י עַל־שֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃

3:49My eye trickles down, and ceases not, without any intermission,

מטעֵינִ֧י נִגְּרָ֛ה וְלֹ֥א תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃

3:50Till Hashem look down, and behold from heaven.

נעַד־יַשְׁקִ֣יף וְיֵ֔רֶא יְהוָ֖ה מִשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

3:51My eye affects my heart because of all the daughters of my city.

נאעֵינִי֙ עֽוֹלְלָ֣ה לְנַפְשִׁ֔י מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנ֥וֹת עִירִֽי׃

3:52My enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.

נבצ֥וֹד צָד֛וּנִי כַּצִּפּ֖וֹר אֹיְבַ֥י חִנָּֽם׃

3:53They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

נגצָֽמְת֤וּ בַבּוֹר֙ חַיָּ֔י וַיַּדּוּ־אֶ֖בֶן בִּֽי׃

3:54Waters flowed over my head; then I said, “I am cut off.”

נדצָֽפוּ־מַ֥יִם עַל־רֹאשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥רְתִּי נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃

3:55I called upon Your name, O Hashem, out of the low dungeon.

נהקָרָ֤אתִי שִׁמְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִבּ֖וֹר תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃

3:56You have heard my voice: hide not Your ear at my breathing, at my cry.

נוקוֹלִ֖י שָׁמָ֑עְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵ֧ם אָזְנְךָ֛ לְרַוְחָתִ֖י לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃

3:57You drew near in the day that I called upon You: You said, “Fear not.”

נזקָרַ֨בְתָּ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶקְרָאֶ֔ךָּ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אַל־תִּירָֽא׃

3:58O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my soul; You have redeemed my life.

נחרַ֧בְתָּ אֲדֹנָ֛י רִיבֵ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְתָּ חַיָּֽי׃

3:59O Hashem, You have seen my wrong: judge You my cause.

נטרָאִ֤יתָה יְהוָה֙ עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔י שָׁפְטָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃

3:60You have seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

סרָאִ֨יתָה֙ כָּל־נִקְמָתָ֔ם כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃

3:61You have heard their reproach, O Hashem, and all their imaginations against me;

סאשָׁמַ֤עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתָם֙ יְהוָ֔ה כָּל־מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי׃

3:62The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

סבשִׂפְתֵ֤י קָמַי֙ וְהֶגְיוֹנָ֔ם עָלַ֖י כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

3:63Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their music.

סגשִׁבְתָּ֤ם וְקִֽימָתָם֙ הַבִּ֔יטָה אֲנִ֖י מַנְגִּינָתָֽם׃

3:64Render unto them a recompence, O Hashem, according to the work of their hands.

סדתָּשִׁ֨יב לָהֶ֥ם גְּמ֛וּל יְהוָ֖ה כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃

3:65Give them sorrow of heart, Your curse unto them.

סהתִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ מְגִנַּת־לֵ֔ב תַּאֲלָֽתְךָ֖ לָהֶֽם׃

3:66Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of Hashem.

סותִּרְדֹּ֤ף בְּאַף֙ וְתַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת שְׁמֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃