וְאַתִּי שָׁד֜וּד מַֽה־תַּעֲשִׂ֗י כִּֽי־תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י שָׁנִ֜י כִּי־תַעְדִּ֣י עֲדִי־זָהָ֗ב כִּֽי־תִקְרְעִ֤י בַפּוּךְ֙ עֵינַ֔יִךְ לַשָּׁ֖וְא תִּתְיַפִּ֑י מָאֲסוּ־בָ֥ךְ עֹגְבִ֖ים נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃
And you, devastated one, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with kohl, in vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers have despised you; they seek your life.
Morphology
- וְאַתִּי (ve-atti) – Root: את (ʾatt); Form: Conjunction + independent pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “and you”; Notes: Feminine singular, emphatic direct address.
- שָׁד֜וּד (shadud) – Root: שדד (shadad); Form: Qal passive participle masculine singular; Translation: “devastated”; Notes: Describes the state of ruin and plunder.
- מַֽה־תַּעֲשִׂ֗י (mah-taʿasi) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Interrogative + Qal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “what will you do?”; Notes: Challenges the futility of action in light of destruction.
- כִּֽי־תִלְבְּשִׁ֨י (ki-tilbeshi) – Root: לבשׁ (lavash); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “though you clothe yourself”; Notes: Conditional concessive clause.
- שָׁנִ֜י (shani) – Root: שני (shani); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “scarlet”; Notes: Rich garment color, symbol of luxury or seduction.
- כִּי־תַעְדִּ֣י (ki-taʿdi) – Root: עדה (ʿadah); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “though you adorn yourself”; Notes: Continues the concessive tone.
- עֲדִי־זָהָ֗ב (ʿadi-zahav) – Roots: עדה (ʿadi – “ornament”), זהב (zahav – “gold”); Form: Construct noun phrase; Translation: “with ornaments of gold”; Notes: Indicates opulent outward adornment.
- כִּֽי־תִקְרְעִ֤י (ki-tiqrəʿi) – Root: קרע (qaraʿ); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “though you enlarge” or “tear open”; Notes: Possibly metaphorical for widening the eyes.
- בַפּוּךְ֙ (ba-pukh) – Root: פוך (pukh); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “with kohl”; Notes: Eye cosmetic used for beautification.
- עֵינַ֔יִךְ (eineikh) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Dual noun with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your eyes”; Notes: Direct object of the cosmetic application.
- לַשָּׁ֖וְא (la-shav) – Root: שוא (shav); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in vain”; Notes: Indicates futility or uselessness of the beautification.
- תִּתְיַפִּ֑י (tityappi) – Root: יפה (yafah); Form: Hitpael imperfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “you beautify yourself”; Notes: Reflexive form underscores self-decoration.
- מָאֲסוּ־בָ֥ךְ (maʾasu-vakh) – Root: מאס (maʾas); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “they have despised you”; Notes: Rejection by those once attracted.
- עֹגְבִ֖ים (ʿogvim) – Root: עגב (ʿagav); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “lovers”; Notes: Implies illicit or passionate suitors.
- נַפְשֵׁ֥ךְ (nafsheikh) – Root: נפשׁ (nefesh); Form: Noun feminine singular with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your life”; Notes: Often idiomatic for one’s very self.
- יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ (yevakkeshu) – Root: בקשׁ (baqqash); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they will seek”; Notes: In context, may suggest threat to life or predatory pursuit.