כ (Kaf) For the Lord ¹  will not reject us forever. ² 

“We ¹  have blatantly rebelled; ²  you ³  have not forgiven.”

to defraud a person in a lawsuit – the Lord ¹  does not approve ²  of such things!

For he is not predisposed to afflict ¹  or to grieve people. ² 

You came near ¹  on the day I called to you; you said, ²  “Do not fear!”

ע (Ayin) Tears flow from my eyes ¹  and will not stop; there will be no break ² 

פ (Pe) The Lord himself ¹  has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. They did not honor the priests; ²  they did not show favor to the elders. ³ 

You heard ¹  my plea: ²  “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief!” ³ 

He drove me into captivity ¹  and made me walk ²  in darkness and not light.

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that everything comes – both calamity and blessing? ¹ 

ע (Ayin) Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help. ¹  From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.

צ (Tsade) Cry out ¹  from your heart ²  to the Lord, ³  O wall of Daughter Zion! ⁴  Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long! ⁵  Do not rest; do not let your tears ⁶  stop!

ח (Khet) Now their appearance ¹  is darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it is dried up, like tree bark.

צ (Tsade) Our enemies ¹  hunted us down at every step ²  so that we could not walk about in our streets. Our end drew near, our days were numbered, ³  for our end had come!

א (Alef) Alas! ¹  The Lord ²  has covered Daughter Zion ³  with his anger. ⁴  He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect ⁵  his temple ⁶  when he displayed his anger. ⁷ 

ס (Samek) People cry to them, “Turn away! You are unclean! Turn away! Turn away! Don’t touch us!” So they have fled and wander about; but the nations say, ¹  “They may not stay here any longer.”

י (Yod) An enemy grabbed ¹  all her valuables. ²  Indeed she watched in horror ³  as Gentiles ⁴  invaded her holy temple ⁵  – those whom you ⁶  had commanded: “They must not enter ⁷  your assembly place.” ⁸ 

ח (Khet) The Lord was determined to tear down Daughter Zion’s wall. He prepared to knock it down; ¹  he did not withdraw his hand from destroying. ²  He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament; together they mourned their ruin. ³ 

ט (Tet) Her menstrual flow ¹  has soiled ²  her clothing; ³  she did not consider ⁴  the consequences of her sin. ⁵  Her demise ⁶  was astonishing, ⁷  and there was no one to comfort her. She cried, “Look, ⁸  O Lord, on my ⁹  affliction because my enemy boasts!”

ת (Tav) O people of Zion, ¹  your punishment ²  will come to an end; ³  he will not prolong your exile. ⁴  But, O people of Edom, ⁵  he will punish ⁶  your sin ⁷  and reveal ⁸  your offenses!