Klagesangene 4

1 Hvor Guldet blev sort, og skæmmet det ædle metal, de hellige Stene slængt hen paa Gadernes Hjørner!

How is the gold become dim, Changed the best — the pure gold? Poured out are stones of the sanctuary At the head of all out-places.

2 Zions de dyre Sønner, der opvejed Guld, kun regnet for Lerkar, Pottemagerhænders Værk!

The precious sons of Zion, Who are comparable with fine gold, How have they been reckoned earthen bottles, Work of the hands of a potter.

3 Selv Sjakaler byder Brystet til, giver Ungerne Die, men mit Folks Datter blev grum som Ørkenens Strudse.

Even dragons have drawn out the breast, They have suckled their young ones, The daughter of my people is become cruel, Like the ostriches in a wilderness.

4 Den spædes Tunge hang fast ved Ganen af Tørst, Børnene tigged om Brød, og ingen gav dem.

Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none.

5 Folk, som levede lækkert, omkom paa Gaden; Folk, som var baaret paa Purpur, favnede Skarnet.

Those eating of dainties have been desolate in out-places, Those supported on scarlet have embraced dunghills.

6 Mit Folks Datters Brøde var større end Synden i Sodom, som brat blev styrtet, saa Hænder ej rørtes derinde.

And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as [in] a moment, And no hands were stayed on her.

7 Hendes Fyrster var renere end Sne, mer hvide end Mælk, deres Legeme rødere end Koral, som Safir deres Aarer;

Purer were her Nazarites than snow, Whiter than milk, ruddier of body than rubies, Of sapphire their form.

8 mer sorte end Sod ser de ud, kan ej kendes paa Gaden, Huden hænger ved Knoglerne, tør som Træ.

Darker than blackness hath been their visage, They have not been known in out-places, Cleaved hath their skin unto their bone, It hath withered — it hath been as wood.

9 Sværdets Ofre var bedre farne end Sultens, som svandt hen, dødsramte, af Mangel paa Markens Grøde.

Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.

10 Blide Kvinders Hænder kogte deres Børn; da mit Folks Datter brød sammen, blev de dem til Føde.

The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11 HERREN køled sin Vrede, udøste sin Harmglød, han tændte i Zion en Ild, dets Grundvolde aad den.

Completed hath Jehovah His fury, He hath poured out the fierceness of His anger, And he kindleth a fire in Zion, And it devoureth her foundations.

12 Ej troede Jordens Konger, ja ingen i Verden, at Uven og Fjende skulde staa i Jerusalems Porte.

Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem.

13 Det var for Profeternes Synd, for Præsternes Brøde, som i dets Midte udgød retfærdiges Blod.

Because of the sins of her prophets, The iniquities of her priests, Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous,

14 De vanked som blinde paa Gaderne, tilsølet af Blod, rørte med Klæderne Ting, som ikke maa røres.

They have wandered naked in out-places, They have been polluted with blood, Without [any] being able to touch their clothing,

15 »Var jer! En uren!« raabte man; »Var jer dog for dem!« Naar de flyr og vanker, raaber man: »Bliv ikke her!«

'Turn aside — unclean,' they called to them, 'Turn aside, turn aside, touch not,' For they fled — yea, they have wandered, They have said among nations: 'They do not add to sojourn.'

16 HERREN spredte dem selv, han saa dem ej mer, Præster regned man ej eller ynked Profeter.

The face of Jehovah hath divided them, He doth not add to behold them, The face of priests they have not lifted up, Elders they have not favoured.

17 End smægted vort Blik efter Hjælp, men kun for at skuffes, paa Varden spejded vi efter det Folk, der ej hjælper.

While we exist — consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation [that] saveth not.

18 De lured paa vort Fjed, fra Torvene holdt vi os borte; Enden var nær, vore Dage var omme, ja, Enden var kommet.

They have hunted our steps from going in our broad-places, Near hath been our end, fulfilled our days, For come hath our end.

19 Mer snare end Himlens Ørne var de, som jog os, paa Bjergene satte de efter os, lured i Ørkenen,

Swifter have been our pursuers, Than the eagles of the heavens, On the mountains they have burned [after] us, In the wilderness they have laid wait for us.

20 vor Livsaande, HERRENS Salvede, blev fanget i deres Grave, han, i hvis Skygge vi tænkte at leve blandt Folkene.

The breath of our nostrils — the anointed of Jehovah, Hath been captured in their pits, of whom we said: 'In his shadow we do live among nations.'

21 Glæd dig og fryd dig, Edom, som bor i Uz! Ogsaa dig skal Bægeret naa, du skal blotte dig drukken.

Joy and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, Dwelling in the land of Uz, Even unto thee pass over doth a cup, Thou art drunk, and makest thyself naked.

22 Din Skyld er til Ende, Zion, du forvises ej mer; han hjemsøger, Edom, din Skyld, afslører dine Synder.

Completed [is] thy iniquity, daughter of Zion, He doth not add to remove thee, He hath inspected thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He hath removed [thee] because of thy sins!