Tanach
Eichah 5 איכה ה׳
Part of: Petuchah, Lamentations 5:1Petuchah, Lamentations 5:19
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
זְכֹר יְהֹוָה מֶֽה־הָיָה לָנוּ (הביט) [הַבִּיטָה] וּרְאֵה אֶת־חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃
God, remember what happened to us; look, take note of our degradation.
God, remember what happened to us; look, take note of our degradation.
נַחֲלָתֵנוּ נֶֽהֶפְכָה לְזָרִים בָּתֵּינוּ לְנׇכְרִֽים׃
Our heritage was subverted to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
Our heritage was subverted to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
יְתוֹמִים הָיִינוּ (אין) [וְאֵין] אָב אִמֹּתֵינוּ כְּאַלְמָנֽוֹת׃
We have been orphaned, there is no father, our mothers are as widows.
We have been orphaned, there is no father, our mothers are as widows.
מֵימֵינוּ בְּכֶסֶף שָׁתִינוּ עֵצֵינוּ בִּמְחִיר יָבֹֽאוּ׃
We pay to drink our own water, our wood is acquired for a price.
We pay to drink our own water, our wood is acquired for a price.
Rashi
עַל צַוָּארֵנוּ נִרְדָּפְנוּ יָגַעְנוּ (לא) [וְלֹא] הֽוּנַֽח־לָֽנוּ׃
We are hounded around our necks, we exhaust ourselves, but nothing remains for us.
We are hounded around our necks, we exhaust ourselves, but nothing remains for us.
Rashi
על צוארנו נרדפנו. בעול עבודה קשה:
We are hounded around our necks. Because of the yoke of hard labor.
יגענו. לאסוף ממון ונכסים:
We exhaust ourselves. To gather money and property.
ולא הונח לנו. יגיענו בידינו כי האויבי' גובים וחוטפים הכל במסים וגולגליות וארנוניות:
But nothing remains for us. [Of] our toil in our hands, because the enemies would collect and seize everything for taxes, head taxes, and property taxes.2Alternatively, ‘and we were given no rest [ולא הונח לנו].’
מִצְרַיִם נָתַנּוּ יָד אַשּׁוּר לִשְׂבֹּעַֽ לָֽחֶם׃
We extended a hand toward Egypt [for assistance,] toward Ashur, to satiate us with bread.
We extended a hand toward Egypt [for assistance,] toward Ashur, to satiate us with bread.
Rashi
מצרים נתנו יד. דרך אדם הנופל ורוצה לעמוד מושיט יד למי שאצלו לעזור לו ואף כאן למצרים הושטנו יד שיעזרונו:
Toward Egypt we extended a hand [for assistance]. It is customary for a person who is falling and wishes to stand up to stretch out a hand to someone nearby to help him. Here too, we stretched out a hand to Egypt that they should help us.3Alternatively, Egypt gave us their hand[shake], i.e., an expression of making an oath, that they would assist us. (Ibn Ezra)
ולאשור. שישבעונו בלחמם:
[Toward] Ashur. That they sate us with their bread.
נתנו. כמו נתננו דגשות הנו"ן משמשת במקום נו"ן שנייה וכן (ד"ה א כט) כי ממך הכל ומידך נתנו לך וכן (בראשית לד) ונתנו את בנותינו לכם:
We extended [a hand]. נָתַנּוּ is] the same as נָתַנְנוּ. The dagesh in the nun takes the place of the second nun, as in, “for all is from You, and from Your hand we have given נָתַנּוּ it to You,”4I Divrei Hayomim 29:14. and as in, “and we will give וְנָתַנּוּ our daughters to you.”5Bereishis 34:16.
אֲבֹתֵינוּ חָֽטְאוּ (אינם) [וְאֵינָם] (אנחנו) [וַאֲנַחְנוּ] עֲוֺנֹתֵיהֶם סָבָֽלְנוּ׃
Our forefathers sinned, and are no longer—we must bear the burden of their transgressions.
Our forefathers sinned, and are no longer—we must bear the burden of their transgressions.
עֲבָדִים מָשְׁלוּ בָנוּ פֹּרֵק אֵין מִיָּדָֽם׃
Slaves rule over us, and there is no redeemer from their clutches.
Slaves rule over us, and there is no redeemer from their clutches.
בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ נָבִיא לַחְמֵנוּ מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃
We gain our bread at the risk of our lives, from the sword of the wilderness.
We gain our bread at the risk of our lives, from the sword of the wilderness.
Rashi
בנפשנו נביא לחמנו. בסכנת נפשנו [ היינו מסוכנים כשהיינו מביאי' מזנותינו מן השדה מפני חרב המדבר:
We gain our bread at the risk of our lives. With our life in jeopardy. We were in danger when we would bring our food from the field because of the sword of the wilderness.
עוֹרֵנוּ כְּתַנּוּר נִכְמָרוּ מִפְּנֵי זַלְעֲפוֹת רָעָֽב׃
Our skin is inflamed like a furnace, from burning hunger.
Our skin is inflamed like a furnace, from burning hunger.
Rashi
נכמרו. נתחממו וכן (שם מג) כי נכמרו רחמיו ובלשון גמרא יש הרבה על הכומר של ענבים מכמר בישרא:
Inflamed. Became heated, as in, “for his mercies were aroused נִכְמְרוּ”;6Ibid. 43:30. and in the language of the Gemara there are many instances, “a heating vessel כּוֹמֶר of grapes”;7Maseches Yevamos 97a. “the heating מִכְמָר of the flesh.”8Maseches Pesachim 58a.
זלעפת רעב. כמו (תהלים יא) ורוח זלעפות לשון שריפה:
Burning hunger. As in, “and a burning זִלְעָפוֹת wind,”9Tehilim 11:6. an expression of burning.
נָשִׁים בְּצִיּוֹן עִנּוּ בְּתֻלֹת בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָֽה׃
Matrons were ravished in Tzion, maidens in the cities of Yehudah.
Matrons were ravished in Tzion, maidens in the cities of Yehudah.
שָׂרִים בְּיָדָם נִתְלוּ פְּנֵי זְקֵנִים לֹא נֶהְדָּֽרוּ׃
Noblemen were hung by the hands, elders were accorded no reverence.
Noblemen were hung by the hands, elders were accorded no reverence.
בַּחוּרִים טְחוֹן נָשָׂאוּ וּנְעָרִים בָּעֵץ כָּשָֽׁלוּ׃
Youths were encumbered with millstones, boys staggered with beams.
Youths were encumbered with millstones, boys staggered with beams.
Rashi
טחון נשאו. כשהיו האויבים מוליכין אותם בקולרין היו נותנים על כתפיהם ריחיים ומשאות כדי לייגעם, וכן בעץ כשלו, כשל כחם, ולשון כשלון נופל בתשות כח כמו שנאמר בעזרא (נחמיה ב) ויאמר יהודה כשל כח הסבל וכן (לעיל א) הכשיל כחי:
Encumbered with millstones. When the enemies led them away in neck irons, they would place on their shoulders millstones and burdens in order to tire them.10Alternatively, ‘youths were forced to grind wheat,’ a task which drains their strength. (Ibn Ezra) And similarly, “[and boys] staggered with beams,” [meaning that] their strength failed. The expression of staggering כִּשְׁלוֹן applies to the weakening of strength, as is stated in Ezra, “And Yehudah said, ‘the strength of the bearer has failed,’”11Nechemyah 4:4. and similarly, “He has caused my strength to fail.”12Eichah 1:14.
זְקֵנִים מִשַּׁעַר שָׁבָתוּ בַּחוּרִים מִנְּגִינָתָֽם׃
The elders vanished from the gates of justice, young men from their halls of song.
The elders vanished from the gates of justice, young men from their halls of song.
שָׁבַת מְשׂוֹשׂ לִבֵּנוּ נֶהְפַּךְ לְאֵבֶל מְחֹלֵֽנוּ׃
Joy has disappeared from our hearts, our dance has turned to grief.
Joy has disappeared from our hearts, our dance has turned to grief.
נָֽפְלָה עֲטֶרֶת רֹאשֵׁנוּ אֽוֹי־נָא לָנוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ׃
The crown of our heads has fallen. Woe to us, for we have sinned.
The crown of our heads has fallen. Woe to us, for we have sinned.
עַל־זֶה הָיָה דָוֶה לִבֵּנוּ עַל־אֵלֶּה חָשְׁכוּ עֵינֵֽינוּ׃
For this our hearts ached, over these, our eyes were dulled—
For this our hearts ached, over these, our eyes were dulled—
Rashi
על זה היה דוה לבנו וגו'. על המפורש במקרא של אחריו, על ששמם הר ציון ושועלים הלכו בו:
For this our hearts ached, etc. Because of that which is delineated in the verse following, “Over Mount Tzion, which was devastated [and] foxes meandered over it.”13Below, verse 18. Our hearts ache only for the destruction of Mount Tzion, and nothing else. (Palgei Mayim)
עַל הַר־צִיּוֹן שֶׁשָּׁמֵם שׁוּעָלִים הִלְּכוּ־בֽוֹ׃ {פ}
Over Mount Tzion which was devastated, foxes meandered across it.
Over Mount Tzion which was devastated, foxes meandered across it.
אַתָּה יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם תֵּשֵׁב כִּסְאֲךָ לְדוֹר וָדֽוֹר׃
Adonoy, You shall endure for all eternity, Your throne throughout the generations;
Adonoy, You shall endure for all eternity, Your throne throughout the generations;
Rashi
אתה ה'. ידענו כי לעולם תשב והואיל וכן הוא:
Adonoy, You. We know that You will remain forever. And because that is so...
לָמָּה לָנֶצַח תִּשְׁכָּחֵנוּ תַּֽעַזְבֵנוּ לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִֽים׃
Why, then, O Eternal, do You forget us, abandon us through lengthy days?
Why, then, O Eternal, do You forget us, abandon us through lengthy days?
Rashi
למה לנצח תשכחנו. הלא נשבעת לנו בך כשם שאתה קיים כך שבועתך קיימת:
Why [then O Eternal] do You forget us. Have You not sworn to us Yourself that just as You exist, so does Your oath exist?
הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה ׀ אֵלֶיךָ (ונשוב) [וְֽנָשׁוּבָה] חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶֽדֶם׃
Adonoy, return us to You then we shall repent. Rejuvenate our days as in early times.
Adonoy, return us to You then we shall repent. Rejuvenate our days as in early times.
כִּי אִם־מָאֹס מְאַסְתָּנוּ קָצַפְתָּ עָלֵינוּ עַד־מְאֹֽד׃
For, although You may have considered us contemptible, You have already vented the utmost fury against us. (Adonoy, God, return us to You, then we shall repent. Rejuvenate our days as in early times.)
For, although You may have considered us contemptible, You have already vented the utmost fury against us. (Adonoy, God, return us to You, then we shall repent. Rejuvenate our days as in early times.)
Rashi
כי אם מאוס מאסתנו. בשביל שחטאנו לא היה לך להרבות קצף עד מאד כאשר קצפת:
For although You may have considered us contemptible. Although we have sinned, [nonetheless] You should not have been angered as much as You have been.
[השיבנו ה'. מפני שמסיים בדברי תוכחה הוצרך לכפול מקרא שלפניו פעם אחרת וכן ישעיה ותרי עשר וקהלת:]
Adonoy return us. Because he concludes with words of reproof, he had to repeat the preceding verse again,14In order to end on a note of consolation. and so did Yeshayahu, Trei Osor, and Koheles.
מימינו בכסף שתינו. שהיו יראים לשאוב מים מן הנהר מפני האויבים והיינו קונים מהם בכסף:
We pay to drink our own water. Since we were afraid to draw water from the river because of the enemies, we bought [water] from them with money.1Alternatively, ‘we are accustomed to drink from silver cups, and now we even have to pay to drink from wooden cups. (Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez)