עַד אָנָה בִּכְיָּה בְצִיּוֹן | Ad Ana Bikhya b’Tsiyon (How Long Will Crying Be In Zion), a qinah for Tishah b’Av (ca. 7th c.)

Contributor(s): Unknown Author(s), Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut) and Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

Shared on: 10 August 2022 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license

Categories: Tishah b'Av

Tags: 44th century A.M., 7th century C.E., Alphabetic Acrostic, cosmology, Nusaḥ Ashkenaz, פיוטים piyyutim, קינות Ḳinōt

‘Ad Ana Bikhya B’Tsiyon, is one of the oldest qinot of the cycle, dating to the period before rhyme schemes were the norm for Hebrew poetry. It describes the heavenly luminaries themselves as sympathizing with and lamenting for Israel. It goes through the entire zodiac, beginning with Ares and ending with Pisces. It is traditional to stand and recite the last few lines aloud before transitioning into the Ḳedusha d’Sidra.

Note on the translation: “The CAUSE” is used to translate the Divine Name YHVH, based on the philosophical idea of God as the Prime Mover and on the interpretation of the Name as a causative form of the copula – “causes to be.”

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
עַד אָֽנָה בִּכְיָּה בְצִיּוֹן וּמִסְפֵּד בִּירוּשָׁלָֽיִם׃ תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן וְתִבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם:	How long will crying be in Zion and mourning in Jerusalem? Have mercy on Zion, and build the walls of Jerusalem!
אָז בַּחֲטָאֵֽינוּ חָרַב מִקְדָּשׁ וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ נִשְׂרַף הֵיכָל׃	Because of our sins the Holy Place was destroyed, and because our crimes the Temple was burned.
בְּאֶֽרֶץ חֻבְּרָה לָהּ^[1] כינוי לירושלים שלמעלה קָשְׁרָה מִסְפֵּד וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַֽיִם נָשְׂאוּ קִינָה:	The counterpart^[2] An epithet for Jerusalem on High. tied to the earth-bound one was set to mourn, the heavenly multitudes raised a lament.
גַּם בָּכוּ בְּמֶֽרֶר שִׁבְטֵי יַעֲקֹב וְאַף מַזָּלוֹת יִזְּלוּ דִּמְעָה׃	Also Jacob’s tribes cried bitterly, even the zodiac dripped tears.
דִּגְלֵי יְשֻׁרוּן חָפוּ רֹאשָׁם וְכִימָה וּכְסִיל קָדְרוּ פְּנֵיהֶם	The flags of Jeshurun went covered, the Pleiades and Orion dimmed their appearance.
הֶעְתִּירוּ אָבוֹת וְאֵל כְּלֹא שׁוֹמֵֽעַ^[3] נ׳׳א וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵל צָעֲקוּ בָנִים וְלֹא עָנָה אָב׃	The ancestors pleaded but it was like God wasn’t listening,^[4] Alternative text: “but God did not listen.” the children cried but the Parent didn’t answer.
וְקוֹל הַתֹּר^[5] כינוי למשה רבנו נִשְׁמַע בַּמָּרוֹם וְרוֹעֶה נֶאֱמָן לֹא הִטָּה אֹֽזֶן׃	The voice of the turtledove^[6] An epithet for Moses. voice was sounded on high, but the Faithful Shepherd inclined no ear.
זֶֽרַע קֹֽדֶשׁ לָבְשׁוּ שַׂקִּים וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַֽיִם גַּם הֵם שַׂק הוּשַׂם כְּסוּתָם׃	The holy seed wore sackcloth, and the heavenly multitudes too were covered in sackcloth.
חָשַׁךְ הַשֶּֽׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵֽחַ קָדַר וְכוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת אָסְפוּ נׇגְהָם׃	The sun darkened, the moon dimmed, and the stars and zodiac held back their glow.
טָלֶה רִאשׁוֹן בָּכָה בְּמַר נֶֽפֶשׁ עַל כִּי כְבָשָׂיו לָטֶֽבַח הוּבָֽלוּ׃	The preeminent RAM ♈️^[7] Aries, corresponding to Nisan. wept bitterly for his lambs were led to the slaughter.
יְלָלָה הִשְׁמִיעַ שׁוֹר בַּמְּרוֹמִים כִּי עַל צַוָּארֵֽנוּ נִרְדַּֽפְנוּ כֻּלָּֽנוּ׃	The BULL ♉️^[8] Taurus, corresponding to Iyyar. bellowed on high, for we were all being pursued at the nape.
כּוֹכַב תְּאוֹמִים נִרְאָה חָלוּק כִּי דַּם אַחִים נִשְׁפַּךְ כַּמַּֽיִם׃	The stars of the TWINS ♊️^[9] Gemini, corresponding to Sivan. seemed torn apart for the blood of brothers was spilt like water.
לָאָֽרֶץ בִּקֵּשׁ לִנְפּוֹל^[10] נ׳׳א לִפֹּל ולית נפקא מינה סַרְטָן כִּי הִתְעַלַּֽפְנוּ^[11] נ׳׳א נִתְעַלַּֽפְנוּ ולית נפקא מינה מִפְּנֵי צָמָא׃	To dry land tumbled the CRAB ♋️,^[12] Cancer, corresponding to Tammuz. for we were sick with dehydration.
מָרוֹם נִבְעַת מִפְּנֵי אַרְיֵה כִּי שַׁאֲגָתֵֽנוּ לֹא עָלְתָה לַמָּרוֹם׃	The heights shook at the call of the LION ♌️,^[13] Leo, corresponding to Av. but our roars never reached the heights.
נֶהֶרְגוּ בְתוּלוֹת וְגַם בַּחוּרִים כִּי עַל כֵּן בְּתוּלָה קָדְרָה פָּנֶֽיהָ׃	Young men and women were killed so the VIRGIN ♍️^[14] Virgo, corresponding to Elul. darkened her face.
סִבֵּב מֹאזְנַֽיִם וּבִקֵּשׁ תְּחִנָּה כִּי נִבְחַר לָֽמוֹ^[15] נ׳׳א לָֽנוּ מָֽוֶת מֵחַיִּים׃	The SCALES ♎️^[16] Libra, corresponding to Tishri. tipped and prayed, for death was chosen for them^[17] Alternative text: “for us.” over life.
עַקְרָב לָבַשׁ פַּחַד וּרְעָדָה כִּי בְּחֶֽרֶב וּבְרָעָב שְׁפָטָֽנוּ צוּרֵֽנוּ׃	The SCORPION ♏️^[18] Scorpio, corresponding to Marḥeshvan. wore fear and terror, for our Protector judges us when sword and famine.
פַּלְגֵי מַֽיִם הוֹרִֽידוּ דִּמְעָה כַּנַּֽחַל כִּי אוֹת בַּקֶּֽשֶׁת לֹא נִתַּן לָֽנוּ׃	Our eyes flowed tears like a river, the hope of the BOWMAN ♐️’s^[19] Sagittarius, corresponding to Kislev. rainbow was denied us.
צָֽפוּ מַֽיִם עַל רֹאשֵֽׁנוּ וּבִדְלִי מָלֵא חִכֵּֽנוּ יָבֵשׁ׃	Water flowed over over heads, but the buckets of the WATER-CARRIER ♒️^[20] Aquarius, corresponding to Shevat — the first of the only two to be out of order. left our palate dry.
קֵרַֽבְנוּ קׇרְבָּן וְלֹא נִתְקַבַּל^[21] נ׳׳א נִתְקַבֵּל ולית נפקא מינה וּגְדִי פָּסַק שְׂעִיר חַטָּאתֵֽנוּ׃^[22] נ׳׳א חַטֹּאתֵֽינוּ	We offered sacrifices which were not accepted, and the KID ♑️^[23] Capricorn, corresponding to Tevet — the second of the only two to be out of order. stopped our sin-offering goats.
רַחֲמָנִיּוֹת בִּשְּׁלוּ יַלְדֵּיהֶן וּמַזַּל דָּגִים הֶעֱלִים^[24] נ׳׳א הֶעְלִים ולית נפקא מינה עֵינָיו׃	Caring mothers cooked their own children, and the sign of the FISH ♓️^[25] Pisces, corresponding to Adar. couldn’t look at it.
שָׁכַֽחְנוּ שַׁבָּת בְּלִבּוֹת שׁוֹבָבִים שַׁדַּי שִׁכַּח כׇּל־צִדְקוֹתֵֽינוּ׃	We forgot the Sabbath in our wayward hearts; the Almighty forgot our merits.
תְּקַנֵּא לְצִיּוֹן קִנְאָה גְּדוֹלָה וְתָאִיר לְרַבָּֽתִי־עָם מֵאוֹר נׇגְהֶֽךָ:	You will yet again be greatly zealous for Zion, and light the city flush with people with Your glowing light.
הקהל עומד ושליח הציבור אומר בקול: תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַֽרְתָּ וּתְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ תְּמַהֵר יְשׁוּעָה וְתָחִישׁ גְּאֻלָּה וְתָשׁוּב לִירוּשָׁלַֽיִם בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים:	The community stands and the prayer leader says aloud: Have mercy on Zion as you said, And set her up as You spoke. Speed up rescue and hurry redemption, and return to Jerusalem with great mercy.
כַּכָּתוּב עַל יַד נְבִיאֶֽךְ׃ לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה שַׁ֤בְתִּי לִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים בֵּיתִי֙ יִבָּ֣נֶה בָּ֔הּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְקָ֥ו^[26] וקוה כתיב יִנָּטֶ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (זכריה א:טז)	As writ by your prophets’ hand: Therefore — so says the CAUSE — I return to Jerusalem in mercy; My House will be built in it — declares the CAUSE of Multitides — and a measuring-line^[27] Written with an extra he, thus spelling the imperative form of “hope.” will be stretched over Jerusalem. (Zechariah 1:16)
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ ע֣וֹד ׀ קְרָ֣א לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת ע֛וֹד תְּפוּצֶ֥נָה עָרַ֖י מִטּ֑וֹב וְנִחַ֨ם יְהֹוָ֥ה עוֹד֙ אֶת־צִיּ֔וֹן וּבָחַ֥ר ע֖וֹד בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (זכריה א:יז)	And it is said: Yet call out to say: So says the CAUSE of Multitudes — Yet shall My cities flow with goodness, and the CAUSE will yet comfort Zion and yet choose Jerusalem. (Zechariah 1:17)
וְנֶאֱמַר׃ כִּֽי־נִחַ֨ם יְהֹוָ֜ה צִיּ֗וֹן נִחַם֙ כׇּל־חׇרְבֹתֶ֔יהָ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם מִדְבָּרָהּ֙ כְּעֵ֔דֶן וְעַרְבָתָ֖הּ כְּגַן־יְהֹוָ֑ה שָׂשׂ֤וֹן וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יִמָּ֣צֵא בָ֔הּ תּוֹדָ֖ה וְק֥וֹל זִמְרָֽה׃ (ישעיה נא:ג)	And it is said: For the CAUSE comforts Zion, comforts her ruins, and will make her wilds like Eden and her deserts like the garden of the CAUSE; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanks and the sound of song. (Isaiah 51:3)

Source(s)

Notes[+]

Notes
1	כינוי לירושלים שלמעלה
2	An epithet for Jerusalem on High.
3	נ׳׳א וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵל
4	Alternative text: “but God did not listen.”
5	כינוי למשה רבנו
6	An epithet for Moses.
7	Aries, corresponding to Nisan.
8	Taurus, corresponding to Iyyar.
9	Gemini, corresponding to Sivan.
10	נ׳׳א לִפֹּל ולית נפקא מינה
11	נ׳׳א נִתְעַלַּֽפְנוּ ולית נפקא מינה
12	Cancer, corresponding to Tammuz.
13	Leo, corresponding to Av.
14	Virgo, corresponding to Elul.
15	נ׳׳א לָֽנוּ
16	Libra, corresponding to Tishri.
17	Alternative text: “for us.”
18	Scorpio, corresponding to Marḥeshvan.
19	Sagittarius, corresponding to Kislev.
20	Aquarius, corresponding to Shevat — the first of the only two to be out of order.
21	נ׳׳א נִתְקַבֵּל ולית נפקא מינה
22	נ׳׳א חַטֹּאתֵֽינוּ
23	Capricorn, corresponding to Tevet — the second of the only two to be out of order.
24	נ׳׳א הֶעְלִים ולית נפקא מינה
25	Pisces, corresponding to Adar.
26	וקוה כתיב
27	Written with an extra he, thus spelling the imperative form of “hope.”

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“עַד אָנָה בִּכְיָּה בְצִיּוֹן | Ad Ana Bikhya b’Tsiyon (How Long Will Crying Be In Zion), a qinah for Tishah b’Av (ca. 7th c.)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.

Unknown Author(s)

Sometimes the best we can do in attributing a historical work is to indicate the period and place it was written, the first prayer book it may have been printed in, or the archival collection in which the manuscript was found. We invite the public to help to attribute all works to their original composers. If you know something not mentioned in the commentary offered, please leave a comment or contact us.

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also translates and authors his own original works.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also authors his own original works and transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic text, adding niqqud and t'amim as needed.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17