עַל־כֵּ֗ן רָחַ֤ק מִשְׁפָּט֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תַשִּׂיגֵ֖נוּ צְדָקָ֑ה נְקַוֶּ֤ה לָאֹור֙ וְהִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ לִנְגֹהֹ֖ות בָּאֲפֵלֹ֥ות נְהַלֵּֽךְ׃
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we hope for light, but behold darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
Morphology
- עַל־כֵּן (ʿal-ken) – Roots: על (ʿal), כן (ken); Form: Preposition + adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Introduces a result or conclusion.
- רָחַק (raḥaq) – Root: רחק (raḥaq); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is far”; Notes: Describes the distancing of justice.
- מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “justice”; Notes: Refers to legal or moral judgment.
- מִמֶּנּוּ (mimmennu) – Root: מן (min) + הוא (hu); Form: Preposition + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “from us”; Notes: Indicates source or separation.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continues the negation.
- תַשִּׂיגֵנוּ (tassiʿgenu) – Root: נשׂג (nasag); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “reaches us”; Notes: Describes the failure of righteousness to arrive.
- צְדָקָה (tsedaqah) – Root: צדק (tsadaq); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “righteousness”; Notes: Moral or divine justice.
- נְקַוֶּה (neqaweh) – Root: קוה (qavah); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we hope”; Notes: Describes active longing or expectation.
- לָאֹור (la-or) – Root: אור (ʾor); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for light”; Notes: Light as a symbol of truth or deliverance.
- וְהִנֵּה (ve-hinne) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Conjunction + interjection; Translation: “but behold”; Notes: Introduces unexpected or ironic outcome.
- חֹשֶׁךְ (ḥoshekh) – Root: חשׁך (ḥashakh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “darkness”; Notes: Symbol of judgment or ignorance.
- לִנְגֹהוֹת (lin’got) – Root: נגה (nagah); Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “for brightness”; Notes: Hope for clarity or salvation.
- בָּאֲפֵלוֹת (ba-afeilot) – Root: אפל (afel); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural; Translation: “in gloom”; Notes: Denotes deep darkness or obscurity.
- נְהַלֵּךְ (nehallekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Piel imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we walk”; Notes: Ongoing movement within the darkness.