בִּ֭רְכַּי כָּשְׁל֣וּ מִצּ֑וֹם וּ֝בְשָׂרִ֗י כָּחַ֥שׁ מִשָּֽׁמֶן׃
Nanghihina ang aking mga tuhod dahil sa pag-aayuno, at ang aking katawan ay nangayayat at naubusan ng taba.
Eikhah Rabbah
“Sapping my strength,” Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Yirmeya said: There are four matters that exhaust a person’s strength, and they are: Fasting, the road, iniquity, and the kingdom of Babylon. Fasting, as it is written: “My knees are weak from fasting” (Psalms 109:24). The road, as it is written: “Along the way He has weakened my strength” (Psalms 102:24). Iniquity, as it is written: “In my iniquity, my strength has failed” (Psalms 31:11). Kingdom, as it is written: “Judah said: The strength of the bearer is failing, and the dirt is abundant; we cannot build the wall” (Nehemiah 4:4).164They could not rebuild the walls of Jerusalem due to their enemies. The kingdom of Babylon is representative of oppressive enemies.
“The Lord delivered me into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand.” The Rabbis say: This is a bad wife who has a costly marriage contract.
Rav Huna said: “The man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). He rendered him a slave bound to himself. If he does not exert himself, he does not eat. That is the opinion of Rabbi Ḥanina, as Rabbi Ḥanina said: “The Lord delivered me into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand.” “Into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand”—if I do not exert myself during the day, at night, “I cannot stand.”
“The Lord delivered me into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand.” The Rabbis say: This is a bad wife who has a costly marriage contract.
Rav Huna said: “The man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). He rendered him a slave bound to himself. If he does not exert himself, he does not eat. That is the opinion of Rabbi Ḥanina, as Rabbi Ḥanina said: “The Lord delivered me into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand.” “Into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand”—if I do not exert myself during the day, at night, “I cannot stand.”
Midrash Tehillim
I hate the vain watchmen. Gan Eden (Paradise) says "I hate the vain watchmen." And whom do I love? I love those who keep your commandments. Gehinnom (Hell) says "I love the vain watchmen." And whom do I hate? I hate those who keep your commandments. (Proverbs 30:15) "The leech has two daughters, give, give." Gan Eden says, "Give me what is mine," and Gehinnom says, "Give me what is mine." (Another interpretation) "For my life is consumed with grief." Rabbi Tanhuma bar Haiya says, "Four things weaken a person's strength: sin, the way (meaning a difficult or challenging path), fasting, and exile. Sin weakens my strength because of my sins, the way (Psalm 119:37) "Turn my eyes away from worthless things," weakens my strength, fasting (Psalm 109:24) "My knees give way from fasting," weakens my strength, and exile (Lamentations 1:14) "My strength is gone and so is my hope," weakens my strength." Rabbi Tanhuma also said, "Even the narrowness is good for one who accepts it," as it is said (Psalm 38:11) "My heart pounds, my strength fails me, even the light has gone from my eyes."