TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 4
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1Alas! The gold is dulled, Debased the finest gold! The sacred gems are spilled At every street corner.
AY-khah yu-AM za-HAV yish-NEH ha-KE-tem ha-TOV tish-ta-PEKH-na av-NEI ko-DAYSH b'-ROSH kol-KHU-tzot. (S)
אאֵיכָה֙ יוּעַ֣ם זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א הַכֶּ֣תֶם הַטּ֑וֹב תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙ אַבְנֵי־קֹ֔דֶשׁ בְּרֹ֖אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצֽוֹת׃
2The precious children of Tzion; Once valued as gold— Alas, they are accounted as earthen pots, Work of a potter's hands!
b'-NAY tzi-YON ha-y'-ka-REEM ha-m'-su-LA-eem ba-PAZ, ay-KHA nekh-sh'-VU l'-niv-lay-khe-RESH, ma-a-SEH y'-day yo-TZER. (S)
בבְּנֵ֤י צִיּוֹן֙ הַיְקָרִ֔ים הַמְסֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑ז אֵיכָ֤ה נֶחְשְׁבוּ֙ לְנִבְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶשׂ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י יוֹצֵֽר׃
3Even jackals offer the breast And suckle their young; But my poor people has turned cruel, Like ostriches of the desert.
gam-ta-NIN kha-L'-tzu SHAD he-NI-khu gu-RE-hen bat-a-MEE l'-akh-ZAR (ki a-NIM) [ka-y'-ei-NIM] ba-mid-BAR.
גגַּם־[תַּנִּים֙] (תנין) חָ֣לְצוּ שַׁ֔ד הֵינִ֖יקוּ גּוּרֵיהֶ֑ן בַּת־עַמִּ֣י לְאַכְזָ֔ר (כי ענים) [כַּיְעֵינִ֖ים] בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
4The tongue of the suckling cleaves To its palate for thirst. Little children beg for bread; None gives them a morsel.
da-VAK l'-SHON yo-NEK el-KHO ba-TZA-ma, o-la-LEEM sha-a-LU le-KHEM po-RESH AYN la-HEM. (Selah)
דדָּבַ֨ק לְשׁ֥וֹן יוֹנֵ֛ק אֶל־חִכּ֖וֹ בַּצָּמָ֑א עֽוֹלָלִים֙ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ לֶ֔חֶם פֹּרֵ֖שׂ אֵ֥ין לָהֶֽם׃
5Those who feasted on dainties Lie famished in the streets; Those who were reared in purple Have embraced refuse heaps.
ha-o-kh'-leem le-ma-a-da-NEEM na-sha-MU ba-KHU-tzot ha-e-mu-NEEM a-LEI to-LA khee-B'-KU ash-pa-TOT. (s)
ההָאֹֽכְלִים֙ לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים נָשַׁ֖מּוּ בַּחוּצ֑וֹת הָאֱמֻנִים֙ עֲלֵ֣י תוֹלָ֔ע חִבְּק֖וּ אַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת׃
6The guilt of my poor people Exceeded the iniquity of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, Without a hand striking it.
vai-yi-G'-DAL a-VON bat-a-MEE may-KHA-tat s'-DOM ha-ha-foo-KHA k'-mo-ra-GA v'-lo-KHA-lu VAH ya-da-YIM. (s)
ווַיִּגְדַּל֙ עֲוֺ֣ן בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מֵֽחַטַּ֖את סְדֹ֑ם הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה כְמוֹ־רָ֔גַע וְלֹא־חָ֥לוּ בָ֖הּ יָדָֽיִם׃
7Her elect were purer than snow, Whiter than milk; Their limbs were ruddier than coral, Their bodies were like sapphire.
za-KU ne-zi-RE-ha mi-SHE-leg tza-KHU me-KHA-lav a-DE-mu e-TZEM mi-p'-NI-nim sa-PIR giz-ra-TAM.
זזַכּ֤וּ נְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙ מִשֶּׁ֔לֶג צַח֖וּ מֵחָלָ֑ב אָ֤דְמוּ עֶ֙צֶם֙ מִפְּנִינִ֔ים סַפִּ֖יר גִּזְרָתָֽם׃
8Now 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.
kha-SHAKH mi-she-KHOR to-AM lo ni-K'-ru ba-KHU-tzot tza-FAD o-RAM al-atz-MAM ya-VESH ha-YA kha-Etz. (S)
חחָשַׁ֤ךְ מִשְּׁחוֹר֙ תׇּֽאֳרָ֔ם לֹ֥א נִכְּר֖וּ בַּחוּצ֑וֹת צָפַ֤ד עוֹרָם֙ עַל־עַצְמָ֔ם יָבֵ֖שׁ הָיָ֥ה כָעֵֽץ׃
9Better off were the slain of the sword Than those slain by famine, Who pined away, [as though] wounded, For lack of the fruits of the field.
to-VEEM ha-YU khal-LAY khe-REV me-khal-LAY ra-AV, she-HEM ya-ZU-vu me-du-ka-REEM mi-te-NU-vot sa-DAI. (Selah)
טטוֹבִ֤ים הָיוּ֙ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב מֵֽחַלְלֵ֖י רָעָ֑ב שֶׁ֣הֵ֤ם יָזֻ֙בוּ֙ מְדֻקָּרִ֔ים מִתְּנוּבֹ֖ת שָׂדָֽי׃
10With their own hands, tenderhearted women Have cooked their children; Such became their fare, In the disaster of my poor people.
y'-DEI na-SHEEM ra-cha-ma-NEE-ot bi-SHU ya-l'-DEY-hen ha-YU l'-va-ROT la-MO b'-SHE-ver bat-a-MEE
ייְדֵ֗י נָשִׁים֙ רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת בִּשְּׁל֖וּ יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן הָי֤וּ לְבָרוֹת֙ לָ֔מוֹ בְּשֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃
11Hashem vented all His fury, Poured out His blazing wrath; He kindled a fire in Tzion Which consumed its foundations.
ki-LAH a-do-NAI et-kha-MAT-o, sha-FAKH kha-RON a-PO, va-ya-TZET eish b'-tzi-YON, va-TO-khal ye-so-do-TE-ha. (Selah)
יאכִּלָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־חֲמָת֔וֹ שָׁפַ֖ךְ חֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֑וֹ וַיַּצֶּת־אֵ֣שׁ בְּצִיּ֔וֹן וַתֹּ֖אכַל יְסֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃
12The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor any of the inhabitants of the world, That foe or adversary could enter The gates of Yerushalayim.
lo he-e-mee-NU mal-khay E-retz (kol) yo-sh'-VAY tay-VAYL, kee ya-VO tzar v'-o-YAYV b'-sha-a-RAY ye-ru-sha-LA-im. (seh)
יבלֹ֤א הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ (וכל) [כֹּ֖ל] יֹשְׁבֵ֣י תֵבֵ֑ל כִּ֤י יָבֹא֙ צַ֣ר וְאוֹיֵ֔ב בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
13It was for the sins of her Neviim, The iniquities of her Kohanim, Who had shed in her midst the blood of the just.
m'-kha-TO-at n'-vee-E-ha a-vo-NOT ko-ha-NEE-ha ha-sho-f'-KHEEM b'-kir-BAH dam tza-dee-KEEM
יגמֵֽחַטֹּ֣אות נְבִיאֶ֔יהָ עֲוֺנֹ֖ת כֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָ הַשֹּׁפְכִ֥ים בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ דַּ֥ם צַדִּיקִֽים׃
14They wandered blindly through the streets, Defiled with blood, So that no one was able To touch their garments.
na-U ee-VE-reem ba-KHU-tzot ne-go-A-lu ba-DAM b'-LO yu-KHE-lu yi-ge-U bil-bu-SHE-hem. (S)
ידנָע֤וּ עִוְרִים֙ בַּֽחוּצ֔וֹת נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ בַּדָּ֑ם בְּלֹ֣א יֽוּכְל֔וּ יִגְּע֖וּ בִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם׃
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.”
SU-ru ta-MAY KA-r'-u LA-mo SU-ru SU-ru al ti-GA-u KEE na-TZU gam na-U a-m'-RU ba-go-YIM LO yo-SI-fu la-GUR
טוס֣וּרוּ טָמֵ֞א קָ֣רְאוּ לָ֗מוֹ ס֤וּרוּ ס֙וּרוּ֙ אַל־תִּגָּ֔עוּ כִּ֥י נָצ֖וּ גַּם־נָ֑עוּ אָֽמְרוּ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖פוּ לָגֽוּר׃
4:15 For the nations had resolved: “They shall stay here no longer.”
Battle hill of the 35 fallen soldiers in Gush Eztion
The insulting jeers described in this verse were repeated not too long ago. Following the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, Jews were not only denied entry into many foreign countries, but even the borders of their homeland were closed. After the conclusion of World War II, Palestine (as the Land of Israel was then called) was under British sovereignty and the British government put a strict quota on the number of Jewish refugees allowed to enter. Furthermore, many of those who defied the quota and managed to cross the border into the Promised Land without British permission were rounded up and placed in detention camps, such as the one in the northern coastal city of Atlit. However, the will of Hashem could not be thwarted. After the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, the declaration “They shall stay here no longer” quickly became obsolete. With the Knesset’s passing of the Law of Return, every Jew in the world became entitled to move to Israel and obtain citizenship in the new country. Since then, millions of Jews have moved from all corners of the globe to the Holy Land. For the first time in almost two thousand years, almost half of the Jews in the world now live in Israel and indeed, “they stay here” once again.
16Hashem's countenance has turned away from them, He will look on them no more. They showed no regard for Kohanim, No favor to elders.
PE-nei a-do-NAI khil-KAM lo yo-SIF l'-ha-BI-tam, PE-nei kho-ha-NEEM lo na-SA-u (Z'-KE-nim) [u-z'-KE-nim] lo kha-NA-nu. (SAH)
טזפְּנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ חִלְּקָ֔ם לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖יף לְהַבִּיטָ֑ם פְּנֵ֤י כֹהֲנִים֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔אוּ (זקנים) [וּזְקֵנִ֖ים] לֹ֥א חָנָֽנוּ׃
17Even now our eyes pine away In vain for deliverance. As we waited, still we wait For a nation that cannot help.
(od-ei-NA) [o-dei-NU] tikh-LEI-na e-NEI-nu el e-z'ra-TEI-nu ha-VEL b'-tzi-pi-YA-tei-NU tzi-pi-NU el go-YO lo yo-SHI-a. (Se-la)
יז(עודינה) [עוֹדֵ֙ינוּ֙] תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה עֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֶל־עֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ הָ֑בֶל בְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּ צִפִּ֔ינוּ אֶל־גּ֖וֹי לֹ֥א יוֹשִֽׁעַ׃
18Our steps were checked, We could not walk in our squares. Our doom is near, our days are done— Alas, our doom has come!
tza-DO t'-a-DEE-nu mi-LE-khet bir-kho-vo-TE-nu ka-RAB kit-SE-nu mal-U ya-ME-nu kee-VA kit-SE-nu. {SE}
יחצָד֣וּ צְעָדֵ֔ינוּ מִלֶּ֖כֶת בִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ קָרַ֥ב קִצֵּ֛נוּ מָלְא֥וּ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כִּי־בָ֥א קִצֵּֽנוּ׃
19Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles in the sky; They chased us in the mountains, Lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
ka-LEEM ha-YU ro-d'-FAY-nu mi-nish-RAY sha-MA-yim al he-ha-REEM d-la-KU-nu ba-mid-BAR a-r'-VU LA-nu
יטקַלִּ֤ים הָיוּ֙ רֹדְפֵ֔ינוּ מִנִּשְׁרֵ֖י שָׁמָ֑יִם עַל־הֶהָרִ֣ים דְּלָקֻ֔נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר אָ֥רְבוּ לָֽנוּ׃
4:19 They chased us in the mountains
Battle hill of the 35 fallen soldiers in Gush Eztion
This verse conveys a sense that the enemy lurks on all terrains and in all locations, and is impossible to escape. Unfortunately, even after arriving on the shores of Eretz Yisrael following the Holocaust, Jewish refugees from Europe encountered a situation similar to that described in this verse. Having survived the Nazis, these Jews were met by a new enemy: The local Arab population, which fought violently to keep them away from their ancient homeland. This enemy also waged war on a number of fronts, including the mountains and the wilderness, as described in this verse. In January of 1948, a terrible tragedy took place in the Judean hills. A group of thirty-five soldiers was dispatched to bring provisions and food to the beleaguered communities of Gush Etzion, the Etzion bloc. They set out on foot at night to avoid detection, but the sun rose before they managed to reach their destination. Still in the vicinity of hostile villages, they were detected by some Arab women who had gone down to the valley to gather branches.. Arab mobs were quickly deployed and after a lengthy battle, all thirty-five of the soldiers were killed in a bloody massacre. “They chased us in the mountains, lay in wait for us in the wilderness.”
20The breath of our life, Hashem's anointed, Was captured in their traps— He in whose shade we had thought To live among the nations.
RU-akh a-PAY-nu m'-shee-AKH a-do-NAI nil-KAD b'-sh'-khee-TO-tam a-SHER a-MAR-nu b'-tzil-LO ni-KHEH va-go-YIM. (S)
כר֤וּחַ אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙ מְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה נִלְכַּ֖ד בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְנוּ בְּצִלּ֖וֹ נִֽחְיֶ֥ה בַגּוֹיִֽם׃
21Rejoice 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.
SI-SI v'-SIM-khi bat E-dom (yo-SHE-vet) [yo-SHE-vet] b'-E-rets UTS gam-a-LA-yikh ta-a-VOR-KOS tish-KE-ri v'-tit-A-RI.
כאשִׂ֤ישִׂי וְשִׂמְחִי֙ בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם (יושבתי) [יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת] בְּאֶ֣רֶץ ע֑וּץ גַּם־עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ תַּעֲבׇר־כּ֔וֹס תִּשְׁכְּרִ֖י וְתִתְעָרִֽי׃
22Your iniquity, Fair Tzion, is expiated; He will exile you no longer. Your iniquity, Fair Edom, He will note; He will uncover your sins.
tam-a-vo-NEKH bat-tzi-YON lo yo-SEEF l'-ha-glo-TEKH, pa-KAD a-vo-NEKH bat-e-DOM, gi-LAH al-kha-to-TA-yikh
כבתַּם־עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖יף לְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְ פָּקַ֤ד עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם גִּלָּ֖ה עַל־חַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ׃
