Lamentations 5
The people plead with **YHWH** to remember their profound misery under Babylonian occupation, including loss of inheritance, famine, rape, enslavement, and social upheaval, all attributed to their sin.[1][2][3] They confess their iniquity, lament Zion's desolation, and implore **YHWH** for restoration while fearing utter rejection.[1][4][5]
Interlinear Text
Remember
Remember!
O LORD
Yahweh
Yahweh
what
what?
has happened
he was / he became
to us
—
look
Direct your gaze
look
Direct your gaze!
and see
and see!
—
object-marker
our reproach
our disgrace
זְכֹ֤ר
𐤆𐤊𐤓
zekhor
Remember
Remember!
HVqv2ms
יְהוָה֙
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄
yehvah
Nyambe (Lozi)
O LORD
Yahweh
Yahweh
HNp
מֶֽה
𐤌𐤄
meh
what
what?
HTi
הָ֣יָה
𐤄𐤉𐤄
hayah
has happened
he was / he became
HVqp3ms
לָ֔/נוּ
𐤋/𐤍𐤅
lanu
to us
HR/Sp1cp
הביט
𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤈
hvyt
look
Direct your gaze
HVhv2ms
הַבִּ֖יטָ/ה
𐤄𐤁𐤉𐤈/𐤄
habitah
look
Direct your gaze!
HVhv2ms/Sh
וּ/רְאֵ֥ה
𐤅/𐤓𐤀𐤄
ureeh
and see
and see!
HC/Vqv2ms
אֶת
𐤀𐤕
et
object-marker
HTo
חֶרְפָּתֵֽ/נוּ
𐤇𐤓𐤐𐤕/𐤍𐤅
cherepatenu
our reproach
our disgrace
HNcfsc/Sp1cp
our inheritance
our inherited portion
has been turned
she was overturned
to strangers
to foreign ones
our houses
our houses
to foreigners
to outsiders
נַחֲלָתֵ֨/נוּ֙
𐤍𐤇𐤋𐤕/𐤍𐤅
nachalatenu
our inheritance
our inherited portion
HNcfsc/Sp1cp
נֶֽהֶפְכָ֣ה
𐤍𐤄𐤐𐤊𐤄
nehefekhah
has been turned
she was overturned
HVNp3fs
לְ/זָרִ֔ים
𐤋/𐤆𐤓𐤉𐤌
lezarim
to strangers
to foreign ones
HR/Aampa
בָּתֵּ֖י/נוּ
𐤁𐤕𐤉/𐤍𐤅
bateynu
our houses
our houses
HNcmpc/Sp1cp
לְ/נָכְרִֽים
𐤋/𐤍𐤊𐤓𐤉𐤌
lenakherim
to foreigners
to outsiders
HR/Aampa
orphans
fatherless children
we have become
we were / we became
there is no
there is not
and no
and there is not
father
father of
our mothers
our mothers
like widows
like widows
יְתוֹמִ֤ים
𐤉𐤕𐤅𐤌𐤉𐤌
yetomim
orphans
fatherless children
HNcmpa
הָיִ֨ינוּ֙
𐤄𐤉𐤉𐤍𐤅
hayinu
we have become
we were / we became
HVqp1cp
אין
𐤀𐤉𐤍
yn
there is no
there is not
HTn
וְ/אֵ֣ין
𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍
veeyn
and no
and there is not
HC/Tn
אָ֔ב
𐤀𐤁
av
father
father of
HNcmsa
אִמֹּתֵ֖י/נוּ
𐤀𐤌𐤕𐤉/𐤍𐤅
imoteynu
our mothers
our mothers
HNcfpc/Sp1cp
כְּ/אַלְמָנֽוֹת
𐤊/𐤀𐤋𐤌𐤍𐤅𐤕
kealemanot
like widows
like widows
HR/Ncfpa
our water
our waters
for money
with silver
we have drunk
we drank
our wood
our trees
at a price
for a price
it comes
they come
מֵימֵ֨י/נוּ֙
𐤌𐤉𐤌𐤉/𐤍𐤅
meymeynu
Amanzi (Zulu)
our water
our waters
HNcmpc/Sp1cp
בְּ/כֶ֣סֶף
𐤁/𐤊𐤎𐤐
bekhesef
for money
with silver
HR/Ncmsa
שָׁתִ֔ינוּ
𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅
shatinu
we have drunk
we drank
HVqp1cp
עֵצֵ֖י/נוּ
𐤏𐤑𐤉/𐤍𐤅
etseynu
our wood
our trees
HNcmpc/Sp1cp
בִּ/מְחִ֥יר
𐤁/𐤌𐤇𐤉𐤓
bimechir
at a price
for a price
HR/Ncmsa
יָבֹֽאוּ
𐤉𐤁𐤀𐤅
yavou
it comes
they come
HVqi3mp
on
upon
our necks
our neck
we are pursued
we were pursued
we are weary
we have labored to weariness
not
not
and not
and not
given
was caused to rest
to us
—
עַ֤ל
𐤏𐤋
al
on
upon
HR
צַוָּארֵ֨/נוּ֙
𐤑𐤅𐤀𐤓/𐤍𐤅
tsavarenu
our necks
our neck
HNcmsc/Sp1cp
נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ
𐤍𐤓𐤃𐤐𐤍𐤅
niredafenu
we are pursued
we were pursued
HVNp1cp
יָגַ֖עְנוּ
𐤉𐤂𐤏𐤍𐤅
yagaenu
we are weary
we have labored to weariness
HVqp1cp
לא
𐤋𐤀
l
not
not
HTn
וְ/לֹ֥א
𐤅/𐤋𐤀
velo
and not
and not
HC/Tn
הֽוּנַ֖ח
𐤄𐤅𐤍𐤇
hunach
given
was caused to rest
HVHp3ms
לָֽ/נוּ
𐤋/𐤍𐤅
lanu
to us
HR/Sp1cp
to Egypt
the Dual Enclosed-Land (Mitsrayim)
Mitserayim
we have given
they gave
hand
open hand
Assyria
Ashshur
Ashur
to be satisfied
to be satisfied
bread
bread
מִצְרַ֨יִם֙
𐤌𐤑𐤓𐤉𐤌
mitserayim
to Egypt
the Dual Enclosed-Land (Mitsrayim)
Mitserayim
HNp
נָתַ֣נּוּ
𐤍𐤕𐤍𐤅
natanu
we have given
they gave
HVqp1cp
יָ֔ד
𐤉𐤃
yad
hand
open hand
HNcbsa
אַשּׁ֖וּר
𐤀𐤔𐤅𐤓
ashur
Assyria
Ashshur
Ashur
HNp
לִ/שְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ
𐤋/𐤔𐤁𐤏
liseboa
to be satisfied
to be satisfied
HR/Vqc
לָֽחֶם
𐤋𐤇𐤌
lachem
bread
bread
HNcbsa
our fathers
our fathers
sinned
they erred
not they
they are not
and-not they
and they are not
we
we ourselves
and-we
and we
their iniquities
their guilt-burdens
have borne
we bore
אֲבֹתֵ֤י/נוּ
𐤀𐤁𐤕𐤉/𐤍𐤅
avoteynu
our fathers
our fathers
HNcmpc/Sp1cp
חָֽטְאוּ֙
𐤇𐤈𐤀𐤅
chateu
sinned
they erred
HVqp3cp
אינ/ם
𐤀𐤉𐤍/𐤌
ynm
not they
they are not
HTn/Sp3mp
וְ/אֵינָ֔/ם
𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍/𐤌
veeynam
and-not they
and they are not
HC/Tn/Sp3mp
אנחנו
𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅
nchnv
we
we ourselves
HPp1cp
וַ/אֲנַ֖חְנוּ
𐤅/𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅
vaanachenu
and-we
and we
HC/Pp1cp
עֲוֺנֹתֵי/הֶ֥ם
𐤏𐤅𐤍𐤕𐤉/𐤄𐤌
aonoteyhem
their iniquities
their guilt-burdens
HNcbpc/Sp3mp
סָבָֽלְנוּ
𐤎𐤁𐤋𐤍𐤅
savalenu
have borne
we bore
HVqp1cp
Slaves
male servants
rule
they ruled
over us
—
to deliver
breaking-apart one
there is none
there is not
from their hand
from their hand
עֲבָדִים֙
𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤌
avadim
Slaves
male servants
HNcmpa
מָ֣שְׁלוּ
𐤌𐤔𐤋𐤅
mashelu
rule
they ruled
HVqp3cp
בָ֔/נוּ
𐤁/𐤍𐤅
vanu
over us
HR/Sp1cp
פֹּרֵ֖ק
𐤐𐤓𐤒
poreq
to deliver
breaking-apart one
HVqrmsa
אֵ֥ין
𐤀𐤉𐤍
eyn
there is none
there is not
HTn
מִ/יָּדָֽ/ם
𐤌/𐤉𐤃/𐤌
miyadam
from their hand
from their hand
HR/Ncbsc/Sp3mp
at the risk of our lives
in our living-being
we get
proclaimer
our bread
our bread
because of
from the presence of
the sword
blade of destruction
the wilderness
the grazing steppe
בְּ/נַפְשֵׁ֨/נוּ֙
𐤁/𐤍𐤐𐤔/𐤍𐤅
benafeshenu
at the risk of our lives
in our living-being
HR/Ncbsc/Sp1cp
נָבִ֣יא
𐤍𐤁𐤉𐤀
navi
we get
proclaimer
HVhi1cp
לַחְמֵ֔/נוּ
𐤋𐤇𐤌/𐤍𐤅
lachemenu
our bread
our bread
HNcbsc/Sp1cp
מִ/פְּנֵ֖י
𐤌/𐤐𐤍𐤉
mipeney
because of
from the presence of
HR/Ncbpc
חֶ֥רֶב
𐤇𐤓𐤁
cherev
the sword
blade of destruction
HNcfsc
הַ/מִּדְבָּֽר
𐤄/𐤌𐤃𐤁𐤓
hamidebar
the wilderness
the grazing steppe
HTd/Ncmsa
our skin
our skin
like an oven
like a fire-oven
was blackened
they were kindled
because of
from the presence of
the burning heats
scorching furies of
of famine
famine
עוֹרֵ֨/נוּ֙
𐤏𐤅𐤓/𐤍𐤅
orenu
our skin
our skin
HNcmsc/Sp1cp
כְּ/תַנּ֣וּר
𐤊/𐤕𐤍𐤅𐤓
ketanur
like an oven
like a fire-oven
HR/Ncmsa
נִכְמָ֔רוּ
𐤍𐤊𐤌𐤓𐤅
nikhemaru
was blackened
they were kindled
HVNp3cp
מִ/פְּנֵ֖י
𐤌/𐤐𐤍𐤉
mipeney
because of
from the presence of
HR/Ncbpc
זַלְעֲפ֥וֹת
𐤆𐤋𐤏𐤐𐤅𐤕
zaleafot
the burning heats
scorching furies of
HNcfpc
רָעָֽב
𐤓𐤏𐤁
raav
of famine
famine
HNcmsa
women
women
in Zion
in Tsiyon
in Tsion
they ravished
they afflicted
virgins
set-apart maidens
in the cities
in cities of
of Judah
Yah Is Praised
Yehudah
נָשִׁים֙
𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌
nashim
women
women
HNcfpa
בְּ/צִיּ֣וֹן
𐤁/𐤑𐤉𐤅𐤍
betsion
in Zion
in Tsiyon
in Tsion
HR/Np
עִנּ֔וּ
𐤏𐤍𐤅
inu
they ravished
they afflicted
HVpp3cp
בְּתֻלֹ֖ת
𐤁𐤕𐤋𐤕
betulot
virgins
set-apart maidens
HNcfpa
בְּ/עָרֵ֥י
𐤁/𐤏𐤓𐤉
bearey
in the cities
in cities of
HR/Ncfpc
יְהוּדָֽה
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄
yehudah
of Judah
Yah Is Praised
Yehudah
HNp
Princes
ruling officials
by their hand
in their hand
were hanged
they were hung
faces
face of
elders
aged men
not
not
were honored
were adorned with splendor
שָׂרִים֙
𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌
sarim
Princes
ruling officials
HNcmpa
בְּ/יָדָ֣/ם
𐤁/𐤉𐤃/𐤌
beyadam
by their hand
in their hand
HR/Ncbsc/Sp3mp
נִתְל֔וּ
𐤍𐤕𐤋𐤅
nitelu
were hanged
they were hung
HVNp3cp
פְּנֵ֥י
𐤐𐤍𐤉
peney
faces
face of
HNcbpc
זְקֵנִ֖ים
𐤆𐤒𐤍𐤉𐤌
zeqenim
elders
aged men
HAampa
לֹ֥א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
not
HTn
נֶהְדָּֽרוּ
𐤍𐤄𐤃𐤓𐤅
nehedaru
were honored
were adorned with splendor
HVNp3cp
young men
chosen young men
grinding
hand grinding-mill
they bore
they bore
and boys
young males
under wood
in the tree
staggered
they stumbled
בַּחוּרִים֙
𐤁𐤇𐤅𐤓𐤉𐤌
bachurim
young men
chosen young men
HNcmpa
טְח֣וֹן
𐤈𐤇𐤅𐤍
techon
grinding
hand grinding-mill
HNcmsa
נָשָׂ֔אוּ
𐤍𐤔𐤀𐤅
nasau
they bore
they bore
HVqp3cp
וּ/נְעָרִ֖ים
𐤅/𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤉𐤌
unearim
and boys
young males
HC/Ncmpa
בָּ/עֵ֥ץ
𐤁/𐤏𐤑
baets
under wood
in the tree
HRd/Ncmsa
כָּשָֽׁלוּ
𐤊𐤔𐤋𐤅
kashalu
staggered
they stumbled
HVqp3cp
elders
aged men
from the gate
from the gate
have ceased
they ceased
young men
chosen young men
from their music
from their instrumental melody
זְקֵנִים֙
𐤆𐤒𐤍𐤉𐤌
zeqenim
elders
aged men
HAampa
מִ/שַּׁ֣עַר
𐤌/𐤔𐤏𐤓
mishaar
from the gate
from the gate
HR/Ncmsa
שָׁבָ֔תוּ
𐤔𐤁𐤕𐤅
shavatu
have ceased
they ceased
HVqp3cp
בַּחוּרִ֖ים
𐤁𐤇𐤅𐤓𐤉𐤌
bachurim
young men
chosen young men
HNcmpa
מִ/נְּגִינָתָֽ/ם
𐤌/𐤍𐤂𐤉𐤍𐤕/𐤌
mineginatam
from their music
from their instrumental melody
HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
has ceased
he ceased
the joy
rejoicing-of
of our heart
our inner core
has been turned
he was overturned
to mourning
to mourning
our dance
our round dance
שָׁבַת֙
𐤔𐤁𐤕
shavat
has ceased
he ceased
HVqp3ms
מְשׂ֣וֹשׂ
𐤌𐤔𐤅𐤔
mesos
the joy
rejoicing-of
HNcmsc
לִבֵּ֔/נוּ
𐤋𐤁/𐤍𐤅
libenu
of our heart
our inner core
HNcmsc/Sp1cp
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ
𐤍𐤄𐤐𐤊
nehepakhe
has been turned
he was overturned
HVNp3ms
לְ/אֵ֖בֶל
𐤋/𐤀𐤁𐤋
leevel
to mourning
to mourning
HR/Ncmsa
מְחֹלֵֽ/נוּ
𐤌𐤇𐤋/𐤍𐤅
mecholenu
our dance
our round dance
HNcmsc/Sp1cp
has fallen
she fell
the crown
crown
of our head
our head
woe
Woe!
to
please
us
—
for
for/because
we have sinned
we have missed the mark
נָֽפְלָה֙
𐤍𐤐𐤋𐤄
nafelah
has fallen
she fell
HVqp3fs
עֲטֶ֣רֶת
𐤏𐤈𐤓𐤕
ateret
the crown
crown
HNcfsc
רֹאשֵׁ֔/נוּ
𐤓𐤀𐤔/𐤍𐤅
roshenu
of our head
our head
HNcmsc/Sp1cp
אֽוֹי
𐤀𐤅𐤉
oy
woe
Woe!
HTj
נָ֥א
𐤍𐤀
na
to
please
HTe
לָ֖/נוּ
𐤋/𐤍𐤅
lanu
us
HR/Sp1cp
כִּ֥י
𐤊𐤉
ki
for
for/because
HC
חָטָֽאנוּ
𐤇𐤈𐤀𐤍𐤅
chatanu
we have sinned
we have missed the mark
HVqp1cp
For
upon
this
this one
has become
he was / he became
sick
sickly
our heart
our inner core
for
upon
these
these ones
are dim
they became dark
our eyes
our eyes
עַל
𐤏𐤋
al
For
upon
HR
זֶ֗ה
𐤆𐤄
zeh
this
this one
HPdxms
הָיָ֤ה
𐤄𐤉𐤄
hayah
has become
he was / he became
HVqp3ms
דָוֶה֙
𐤃𐤅𐤄
daveh
sick
sickly
HAamsa
לִבֵּ֔/נוּ
𐤋𐤁/𐤍𐤅
libenu
our heart
our inner core
HNcmsc/Sp1cp
עַל
𐤏𐤋
al-2
for
upon
HR
אֵ֖לֶּה
𐤀𐤋𐤄
eleh
these
these ones
HPdxcp
חָשְׁכ֥וּ
𐤇𐤔𐤊𐤅
chashekhu
are dim
they became dark
HVqp3cp
עֵינֵֽי/נוּ
𐤏𐤉𐤍𐤉/𐤍𐤅
eyneynu
our eyes
our eyes
HNcbdc/Sp1cp
because of
upon
mountain
mountain of
Zion
Tsiyon
Tsion
which is desolate
he became desolate
foxes
jackals
walk
Go forth
upon it
—
עַ֤ל
𐤏𐤋
al
because of
upon
HR
הַר
𐤄𐤓
har
mountain
mountain of
HNcmsc
צִיּוֹן֙
𐤑𐤉𐤅𐤍
tsion
Zion
Tsiyon
Tsion
HNp
שֶׁ/שָּׁמֵ֔ם
𐤔/𐤔𐤌𐤌
sheshamem
which is desolate
he became desolate
HTr/Vqp3ms
שׁוּעָלִ֖ים
𐤔𐤅𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤌
shualim
foxes
jackals
HNcmpa
הִלְּכוּ
𐤄𐤋𐤊𐤅
hilekhu
walk
Go forth
HVpp3cp
בֽ/וֹ
𐤁/𐤅
vo
upon it
HR/Sp3ms
You
you
the LORD
Yahweh
Yahweh
forever
for an unseen age
sit
she will dwell
your throne
your throne
generation
to a generation-cycle
and generation
and generation-cycle
אַתָּ֤ה
𐤀𐤕𐤄
atah
You
you
HPp2ms
יְהוָה֙
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄
yehvah
Nyambe (Lozi)
the LORD
Yahweh
Yahweh
HNp
לְ/עוֹלָ֣ם
𐤋/𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤌
leolam
forever
for an unseen age
HR/Ncmsa
תֵּשֵׁ֔ב
𐤕𐤔𐤁
teshev
sit
she will dwell
HVqi2ms
כִּסְאֲ/ךָ֖
𐤊𐤎𐤀/𐤊
kiseakha
your throne
your throne
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
לְ/דֹ֥ר
𐤋/𐤃𐤓
ledor
generation
to a generation-cycle
HR/Ncmsa
וָ/דֽוֹר
𐤅/𐤃𐤅𐤓
vador
and generation
and generation-cycle
HC/Ncmsa
why
for what?
forever
to perpetuity
will you forget us
you will forget us
forsake us
you will abandon him
for length
for your length
of days
days
לָ֤/מָּה
𐤋/𐤌𐤄
lamah
why
for what?
HR/Ti
לָ/נֶ֨צַח֙
𐤋/𐤍𐤑𐤇
lanetsach
forever
to perpetuity
HR/Ncmsa
תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֔/נוּ
𐤕𐤔𐤊𐤇/𐤍𐤅
tishekachenu
will you forget us
you will forget us
HVqi2ms/Sp1cp
תַּֽעַזְבֵ֖/נוּ
𐤕𐤏𐤆𐤁/𐤍𐤅
taazevenu
forsake us
you will abandon him
HVqi2ms/Sp1cp
לְ/אֹ֥רֶךְ
𐤋/𐤀𐤓𐤊
leorekhe
for length
for your length
HR/Ncmsc
יָמִֽים
𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌
yamim
of days
days
HNcmpa
Turn us
cause us to return
O LORD
Yahweh
Yahweh
to you
toward you
and we will return
and we will return
and we shall return
and let us turn back
renew
Renew!
our days
our days
as of old
like ancient times
הֲשִׁיבֵ֨/נוּ
𐤄𐤔𐤉𐤁/𐤍𐤅
hashivenu
Turn us
cause us to return
HVhv2ms/Sp1cp
יְהוָ֤ה
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄
yehvah
Nyambe (Lozi)
O LORD
Yahweh
Yahweh
HNp
אֵלֶ֨י/ךָ֙
𐤀𐤋𐤉/𐤊
eleykha
to you
toward you
HR/Sp2ms
ו/נשוב
𐤅/𐤍𐤔𐤅𐤁
vnshvv
and we will return
and we will return
HC/Vqi1cp
וְֽ/נָשׁ֔וּבָה
𐤅/𐤍𐤔𐤅𐤁𐤄
venashuvah
and we shall return
and let us turn back
HC/Vqh1cp
חַדֵּ֥שׁ
𐤇𐤃𐤔
chadesh
renew
Renew!
HVpv2ms
יָמֵ֖י/נוּ
𐤉𐤌𐤉/𐤍𐤅
yameynu
our days
our days
HNcmpc/Sp1cp
כְּ/קֶֽדֶם
𐤊/𐤒𐤃𐤌
keqedem
as of old
like ancient times
HR/Ncmsa
unless
for/because
you have
if / whether
utterly rejected
utter rejection
rejected us
you spurned us
are angry
you became enraged
with us
upon us
beyond
up to
measure
with great force
כִּ֚י
𐤊𐤉
ki
unless
for/because
HC
אִם
𐤀𐤌
im
you have
if / whether
HC
מָאֹ֣ס
𐤌𐤀𐤎
maos
utterly rejected
utter rejection
HVqa
מְאַסְתָּ֔/נוּ
𐤌𐤀𐤎𐤕/𐤍𐤅
measetanu
rejected us
you spurned us
HVqp2ms/Sp1cp
קָצַ֥פְתָּ
𐤒𐤑𐤐𐤕
qatsafeta
are angry
you became enraged
HVqp2ms
עָלֵ֖י/נוּ
𐤏𐤋𐤉/𐤍𐤅
aleynu
with us
upon us
HR/Sp1cp
עַד
𐤏𐤃
ad
beyond
up to
HR
מְאֹֽד
𐤌𐤀𐤃
meod
measure
with great force
HD