Eikhah (Lam) 1

1 How lonely lies the city that once thronged with people! Once great among the nations, now she is like a widow! Once princess among provinces, she has become a vassal. 2 Bitterly she weeps at night, tears running down her cheeks. Not one of all her lovers is there to comfort her. Her friends […]

Eikhah (Lam) 2

1 How enveloped in darknessAdonai, in his anger, has made the daughter of Tziyon! He has thrown down from heaven to earth the splendor of Isra’el, forgotten his footstool [the sanctuary] on the day of his anger. 2 Without pityAdonaiswallowed up all the dwellings of Ya‘akov. In his wrath he broke down the strongholds of […]

Eikhah (Lam) 5

1 Remember,Adonai, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. 2 The land we possessed has been passed on to strangers, our homes to foreigners. 3 We have become fatherless orphans, our mothers now are widows. 4 We have to pay to drink our own water; we have to buy our own wood. […]

Rut (Rut) 1

1 Back in the days when the judges were judging, at a time when there was a famine in the land, a certain man from Beit-Lechem went to live in the territory of Mo’av — he, his wife and his two sons. 2 The man’s name was Elimelekh, his wife’s name was Na‘omi, and his […]

Rut (Rut) 2

1 Na‘omi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent and wealthy member of Elimelekh’s clan, whose name was Bo‘az. 2 Rut the woman from Mo’av said to Na‘omi, “Let me go into the field and glean ears of grain behind anyone who will allow me to.” She answered her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 […]

Rut (Rut) 3

1 Na‘omi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I should be seeking security for you; so that things will go well with you. 2 Now there’s Bo‘az our relative — you were with his girls. He’s going to be winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. 3 So bathe, anoint yourself, put on your good […]