א. Then, for our sins, the Sanctuary was destroyed, and for our violations, the Temple building was burnt. ב. On Earth, they gathered to her, compiling a eulogy. And the host of the Heavens raised a lament. "How long..."
ג. Also the tribes of Jacob cried bitterly, and even the astrological constellations flowed with tears. ד. The flags of Jeshurun were despondent, and the Pleiades and Orion looked upset. "How long..."
ה. Fathers pleaded, but God did not listen. Sons screamed, but the Father did not answer. ו. And the sound of the dove was heard on high, but the faithful shepherd did not pay attention. "How long..."
ז. Holy descendants wore sackcloth, and even the host of the Heavens were put in sackcloth garments. ח. The sun got dark and the moon blackened, and stars and constellations gathered their moans. "How long..."
ט. First the ram (Aries) cried with a bitter soul for the fact that his lambs were brought to slaughter. י. A wail was sounded by the bull (Taurus) among the heights, because we were all chased by the neck. "How long..."
כ. The twin star (Gemini) seemed split apart, because the blood of brothers was spilled like water. ל. The crab (Cancer) wished to fall to the ground, because we were fainting from thirst. "How long..."
מ. The high heavens were afraid of the lion (Leo) because our roar did not ascend to on high. נ. Young girls and boys were killed, so the maiden (Virgo)'s face looked upset. "How long..."
ס. The balance (Libra) spun and wished for rest, because death was preferable to us over life. ע. The scorpion (Scorpio) wore fear and trembling, because our enemies judged us with sword and hunger. "How long..."
פ. Streams of water, let tears fall like a river, because the sign of the bow (Sagittarius) was not given to us. צ. Waters rise over our heads, and inside a full bucket (Aquarius) our throats are dry. "How long..."
ק. We offered a sacrifice but it was not accepted, and the goat (Capricorn) stopped our chatat-offering goats. ר. Merciful ones cooked their children, and the constellation of fish (Pisces) looked away. "How long..."
ש. We have forgotten about rest in our backsliding hearts. The Eternal has made all our righteousness irrelevant. ת. Engage passionately for Zion, with great jealousy, and light up the city full of people from your glowing light.
Have mercy on Zion as you said, and build her as you stated. Hasten salvation, hurry redemption, and return to Jerusalem with great mercy. As was written by your prophet: "Therefore, this is what God says- I will return to Jerusalem mercifully, my house will be built in her, says God of Hosts, and a plumbline will be stretched over Jerusalem." And it is said in another verse: "This is what God says- My cities will again be exploding with goodness, and God will comfort Zion and choose Jersualem again." And it is said: "For God has comforted Zion, comforted all her ruins, and has made her deserts like Eden and her wilderness like God's garden. Joy and happiness are to be found there, gratitude and the sound of song."
עַד אָנָה בִּכְיָה בְצִיּוֹן וּמִסְפֵּד בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם. תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן וְתִבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם:
How long will there be crying in Zion and eulogies in Jerusalem? Have compassion for Zion and build the walls of Jerusalem.
אָז בַּחֲטָאֵינוּ חָרַב מִקְדָּשׁ וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ נִשְׂרַף הֵיכָל. בְּאֶרֶץ חֻבְּרָה לָהּ קָשְׁרָה מִסְפֵּד. וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם נָשְׂאוּ קִינָה: עד אנה:
א. Then, for our sins, the Sanctuary was destroyed, and for our violations, the Temple building was burnt. ב. On Earth, they gathered to her, compiling a eulogy. And the host of the Heavens raised a lament. "How long..."
גַּם בָּכוּ בְּמֶרֶר שִׁבְטֵי יַעֲקֹב. וְאַף מַזָּלוֹת יִזְּלוּ דִּמְעָה. דִּגְלֵי יְשֻׁרוּן חָפוּ רֹאשָׁם. וְכִימָה וּכְסִיל קָדְרוּ פְּנֵיהֶם. עד אנה:
ג. Also the tribes of Jacob cried bitterly, and even the astrological constellations flowed with tears. ד. The flags of Jeshurun were despondent, and the Pleiades and Orion looked upset. "How long..."
הֶעְתִּירוּ אָבוֹת וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵל. צָעֲקוּ בָנִים וְלֹא עָנָה אָב. וְקוֹל הַתֹּר נִשְׁמַע בַּמָּרוֹם. וְרוֹעֶה נֶאֱמָן לֹא הִטָּה אֹזֶן. עד אנה:
ה. Fathers pleaded, but God did not listen. Sons screamed, but the Father did not answer. ו. And the sound of the dove was heard on high, but the faithful shepherd did not pay attention. "How long..."
זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ לָבְשׁוּ שַׂקִּים. וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם גַּם הֵם שַׂק הוּשַׂם כְּסוּתָם. חָשַׁךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ קָדַר. וְכוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת אָסְפוּ נָגְהָם. עד אנה:
ז. Holy descendants wore sackcloth, and even the host of the Heavens were put in sackcloth garments. ח. The sun got dark and the moon blackened, and stars and constellations gathered their moans. "How long..."
טָלֶה רִאשׁוֹן בָּכָה בְּמַר נֶפֶשׁ. עַל כִּי כְבָשָׂיו לָטֶבַח הוּבָלוּ. יְלָלָה הִשְׁמִיעַ שׁוֹר בַּמְּרוֹמִים. כִּי עַל צַוָּארֵנוּ נִרְדַּפְנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ. עד אנה:
ט. First the ram (Aries) cried with a bitter soul for the fact that his lambs were brought to slaughter. י. A wail was sounded by the bull (Taurus) among the heights, because we were all chased by the neck. "How long..."
כּוֹכַב תְּאוֹמִים נִרְאָה חָלוּק. כִּי דַּם אַחִים נִשְׁפַּךְ כַּמַּיִם. לָאָרֶץ בִּקֵּשׁ לִפֹּל סַרְטָן. כִּי נִתְעַלַּפְנוּ מִפְּנֵי צָמָא. עד אנה:
כ. The twin star (Gemini) seemed split apart, because the blood of brothers was spilled like water. ל. The crab (Cancer) wished to fall to the ground, because we were fainting from thirst. "How long..."
מָרוֹם נִבְעַת מִפְּנֵי אַרְיֵה. כִּי שַׁאֲגָתֵנוּ לֹא עָלְתָה לַמָּרוֹם. נֶהֶרְגוּ בְתוּלוֹת וְגַם בַּחוּרִים. כִּי עַל כֵּן בְּתוּלָה קָדְרָה פָּנֶיהָ. עד אנה:
מ. The high heavens were afraid of the lion (Leo) because our roar did not ascend to on high. נ. Young girls and boys were killed, so the maiden (Virgo)'s face looked upset. "How long..."
סִבֵּב מֹאזְנַיִם וּבִקֵּשׁ תְּחִנָּה. כִּי נִבְחַר לָנוּ מָוֶת מֵחַיִּים. עַקְרָב לָבַשׁ פַּחַד וּרְעָדָה. כִּי בְּחֶרֶב וּבְרָעָב שְׁפָטָנוּ צוּרֵנוּ. עד אנה:
ס. The balance (Libra) spun and wished for rest, because death was preferable to us over life. ע. The scorpion (Scorpio) wore fear and trembling, because our enemies judged us with sword and hunger. "How long..."
פַּלְגֵי מַיִם הוֹרִידוּ דִּמְעָה כַּנַּחַל. כִּי אוֹת בַּקֶּשֶׁת לֹא נִתַּן לָנוּ. צָפוּ מַיִם עַל רֹאשֵׁנוּ. וּבִדְלִי מָלֵא חִכֵּנוּ יָבֵשׁ. עד אנה:
פ. Streams of water, let tears fall like a river, because the sign of the bow (Sagittarius) was not given to us. צ. Waters rise over our heads, and inside a full bucket (Aquarius) our throats are dry. "How long..."
קֵרַבְנוּ קָרְבָּן וְלֹא נִתְקַבֵּל. וּגְדִי פָּסַק שְׂעִיר חַטֹּאתֵינוּ. רַחֲמָנִיּוֹת בִּשְּׁלוּ יַלְדֵּיהֶן. וּמַזַּל דָּגִים הֶעֱלִים עֵינָיו. עד אנה:
ק. We offered a sacrifice but it was not accepted, and the goat (Capricorn) stopped our chatat-offering goats. ר. Merciful ones cooked their children, and the constellation of fish (Pisces) looked away. "How long..."
שָׁכַחְנוּ שַׁבָּת בְּלִבּוֹת שׁוֹבָבִים. שַׁדַּי שִׁכַּח כָּל צִדְקוֹתֵינוּ. תְּקַנֵּא לְצִיּוֹן קִנְאָה גְּדוֹלָה. וְתָאִיר לְרַבָּתִי עָם מֵאוֹר נָגְהֶךָ:
ש. We have forgotten about rest in our backsliding hearts. The Eternal has made all our righteousness irrelevant. ת. Engage passionately for Zion, with great jealousy, and light up the city full of people from your glowing light.
תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ וּתְכוֹנְנֶהָ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ. תְּמַהֵר יְשׁוּעָה וְתָחִישׁ גְּאֻלָּה וְתָשׁוּב לִירוּשָׁלַיִם בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים: כַּכָּתוּב עַל יַד נְבִיאֶךָ לָכֵן כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ שַׁבְתִּי לִירוּשָׁלַיִם בְּרַחֲמִים בֵּיתִי יִבָּנֶה בָּהּ נְאֻם יְיָ צְבָאוֹת וְקָו יִנָּטֶה עַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם: וְנֶאֱמַר. עוֹד קְרָא לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ צְבָאוֹת עוֹד תְּפוּצֶנָה עָרַי מִטּוֹב וְנִחַם יְיָ עוֹד אֶת צִיּוֹן וּבָחַר עוֹד בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם: וְנֶאֱמַר כִּי נִחַם יְיָ צִיּוֹן נִחַם כָּל חָרְבֹתֶיהָ וַיָּשֶׂם מִדְבָּרָהּ כְּעֵדֶן וְעַרְבָתָהּ כְּגַן יְיָ שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה יִמָּצֵא בָהּ תּוֹדָה וְקוֹל זִמְרָה:
Have mercy on Zion as you said, and build her as you stated. Hasten salvation, hurry redemption, and return to Jerusalem with great mercy. As was written by your prophet: "Therefore, this is what God says- I will return to Jerusalem mercifully, my house will be built in her, says God of Hosts, and a plumbline will be stretched over Jerusalem." And it is said in another verse: "This is what God says- My cities will again be exploding with goodness, and God will comfort Zion and choose Jersualem again." And it is said: "For God has comforted Zion, comforted all her ruins, and has made her deserts like Eden and her wilderness like God's garden. Joy and happiness are to be found there, gratitude and the sound of song."