הָֽיְתָה־לִּ֬י דִמְעָתִ֣י לֶ֭חֶם יֹומָ֣ם וָלָ֑יְלָה בֶּאֱמֹ֥ר אֵלַ֥י כָּל־֝הַיֹּ֗ום אַיֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
My tears have been for me bread by day and by night, when they say to me all the day, “Where is your God?”
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | הָֽיְתָה | hayetah | “has been” | Qal perfect 3fs |
| 2 | לִּי | li | “for me” | Prep לְ + suff 1cs |
| 3 | דִמְעָתִי | dimʿati | “my tears” | N(fs) + suff 1cs |
| 4 | לֶחֶם | lechem | “bread” | N(ms) |
| 5 | יֹומָם | yomam | “by day” | Noun used adverbially |
| 6 | וָלָיְלָה | va-laylah | “and by night” | Conj וְ + N(ms) |
| 7 | בֶּאֱמֹר | be-ʾemor | “when saying” | Prep בְּ + Qal infinitive construct |
| 8 | אֵלַי | ʾelay | “to me” | Prep אֶל + suff 1cs |
| 9 | כָּל־הַיֹּום | kol-ha-yom | “all the day” | N(ms) + Def. art. הַ + N(ms) |
| 10 | אַיֵּה | ʾayyeh | “where” | Interrogative particle |
| 11 | אֱלֹהֶיךָ | ʾElohekha | “your God” | N(mp) + suff 2ms |
Morphology
- הָֽיְתָה (hayetah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “has been”; Notes: Agrees with the feminine subject “tears,” expressing a sustained condition.
- לִּי (li) – Root: ל (l); Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “for me”; Notes: Indicates personal experience or possession.
- דִמְעָתִי (dimʿati) – Root: דמע (d-m-ʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my tears”; Notes: Symbolizes ongoing grief and lament.
- לֶחֶם (lechem) – Root: לחם (l-ḥ-m); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “bread”; Notes: Metaphorically describes tears as the psalmist’s sustenance.
- יֹומָם (yomam) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Noun used adverbially; Translation: “by day”; Notes: Expresses continuous duration during daytime.
- וָלָיְלָה (va-laylah) – Root: ליל (l-y-l); Root Type: Geminate (weak); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and by night”; Notes: Completes the expression of unceasing duration.
- בֶּאֱמֹר (be-ʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition בְּ + infinitive construct; Translation: “when saying”; Notes: Introduces the repeated taunt directed at the speaker.
- אֵלַי (ʾelay) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates the target of the speech.
- כָּל־הַיֹּום (kol-ha-yom) – Root: כל (k-l) / יום (y-w-m); Root Type: Strong / Hollow (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular + definite article הַ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “all the day”; Notes: Emphasizes the relentless repetition of the question.
- אַיֵּה (ʾayyeh) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “where”; Notes: A taunting question challenging the presence of God.
- אֱלֹהֶיךָ (ʾElohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “your God”; Notes: The plural form expresses majesty, while the suffix personalizes the mockery.