They were distressed, and one by one said to him, “Surely not I?”

He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay alert.”

“When ¹  you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive ²  so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, ³  they have their reward.

Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, ¹  but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, ²  so that you were not harmed ³  in any way by us.

but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. ¹  So Cain became very angry, ²  and his expression was downcast. ³ 

especially saddened ¹  by what ²  he had said, that they were not going to see him ³  again. Then they accompanied ⁴  him to the ship.

he sets ¹  the lowly ²  on high, that those who mourn ³  are raised ⁴  to safety.

Only his flesh has pain for himself, ¹  and he mourns for himself.” ² 

I wear sackcloth and they ridicule me. ¹ 

I collapse ¹  from grief. Sustain me by your word! ² 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ¹ 

Instead your hearts are filled with sadness ¹  because I have said these things to you.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Why are you depressed, ¹  O my soul? ²  Why are you upset? ³  Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention. ⁴ 

ד (Dalet) The roads to Zion ¹  mourn ²  because no one ³  travels to the festivals. ⁴  All her city gates ⁵  are deserted; ⁶  her priests groan. ⁷  Her virgins grieve; ⁸  she is in bitter anguish! ⁹ 

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, ¹  ‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; ²  we wailed in mourning, ³  yet you did not weep.’

For even if I made you sad ¹  by my letter, ²  I do not regret having written it ³  (even though I did regret it, ⁴  for ⁵  I see that my letter made you sad, ⁶  though only for a short time).

When the people heard this troubling word ¹  they mourned; ²  no one put on his ornaments.

He put the corpse into his own tomb, and they ¹  mourned over him, saying, “Ah, my brother!”

Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.”