נִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה בְּבָשְׁתֵּ֗נוּ וּֽתְכַסֵּנוּ֮ כְּלִמָּתֵנוּ֒ כִּי֩ לַיהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ חָטָ֗אנוּ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ וַאֲבֹותֵ֔ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֖ינוּ וְעַד־הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ בְּקֹ֖ול יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ ס
We lie down in our shame and our disgrace covers us, for we have sinned against YHWH our God, we and our fathers, from our youth and until this day, and we have not listened to the voice of YHWH our God.
Morphology
- נִשְׁכְּבָה (nishkevah) – Root: שׁכב; Form: Nifal imperfect 1st person common plural (cohortative); Translation: “We lie down”; Notes: Expresses humility and defeat, passive-reflexive form.
- בְּבָשְׁתֵּנוּ (be-voshtenu) – Root: בושׁ; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “in our shame”; Notes: Shame as a location or condition into which they fall.
- וּתְכַסֵּנוּ (u-tekhasenu) – Root: כסה; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “and it covers us”; Notes: Strong emotional image of being overwhelmed by disgrace.
- כְּלִמָּתֵנוּ (kelimmatenu) – Root: כלם; Form: Noun feminine singular + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our disgrace”; Notes: Parallel to “shame,” intensifying the tone of guilt.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason for shame and disgrace.
- לַיהוָה (la-YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Preposition לְ + divine name with article; Translation: “against YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name with directional preposition meaning “to” or “against.”
- אֱלֹהֵינוּ (ʾeloheinu) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our God”; Notes: Affirms covenant relationship even amid sin.
- חָטָאנוּ (ḥataʾnu) – Root: חטא; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we have sinned”; Notes: Confessional tone, corporate responsibility.
- אֲנַחְנוּ (ʾanaḥnu) – Root: אנח; Form: Independent pronoun 1st person plural; Translation: “we”; Notes: Emphatic subject marker for the confession.
- וַאֲבֹותֵינוּ (va-avoteinu) – Root: אב; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “and our fathers”; Notes: Expands guilt across generations.
- מִנְּעוּרֵינוּ (min-neʿureinu) – Root: נער; Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “from our youth”; Notes: Temporal phrase marking prolonged disobedience.
- וְעַד־הַיֹּום (ve-ʿad-ha-yom) – Root: עד / יום; Form: Conjunction + preposition עַד + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and until the day”; Notes: Introduces the present moment in continuity.
- הַזֶּה (hazzeh) – Root: זהה; Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Modifies “day.”
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Introduces contrast or failure of obedience.
- שָׁמַעְנוּ (shamaʿnu) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we have listened”; Notes: Negative form indicates rebellion.
- בְּקֹול (be-qol) – Root: קול; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the voice of”; Notes: Common idiom for obedience or heeding.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Divine name, repeated to stress covenant accountability.
- אֱלֹהֵינוּ (ʾeloheinu) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our God”; Notes: Reaffirming the subject of disobedience.