Lamentationes 3
1 [Aleph Ego vir videns paupertatem meam in virga indignationis ejus.
I am the man that hath seen affliction under the rod of His wrath;
2 Aleph Me minavit, et adduxit in tenebras, et non in lucem.
He hath led me and brought me into darkness, and not into light;
3 Aleph Tantum in me vertit et convertit manum suam tota die.
Yea, against me doth he again and again turn his hand all the day long.
4 Beth Vetustam fecit pellem meam et carnem meam; contrivit ossa mea.
My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 Beth Ædificavit in gyro meo, et circumdedit me felle et labore.
He hath builded against me, and encompassed me with bitterness and woe.
6 Beth In tenebrosis collocavit me, quasi mortuos sempiternos.
He hath set me in dark places, as those that have long been dead.
7 Ghimel Circumædificavit adversum me, ut non egrediar; aggravavit compedem meum.
He hath hedged me about, so that I cannot get out; he hath made my chain heavy;
8 Ghimel Sed et cum clamavero, et rogavero, exclusit orationem meam.
Yea, when I cry and call aloud, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 Ghimel Conclusit vias meas lapidibus quadris; semitas meas subvertit.
He blocketh up my way with hewn stone; he maketh my paths crooked.
10 Daleth Ursus insidians factus est mihi, leo in absconditis.
A bear lying in wait hath he been to me, a lion in lurking-places.
11 Daleth Semitas meas subvertit, et confregit me; posuit me desolatam.
He hath turned aside my ways, and torn me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.
12 Daleth Tetendit arcum suum, et posuit me quasi signum ad sagittam.
He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He Misit in renibus meis filias pharetræ suæ.
He hath caused the sons of his quiver to pierce my reins.
14 He Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo, canticum eorum tota die.
I have been a laughing-stock to all my people, their song all the day.
15 He Replevit me amaritudinibus; inebriavit me absinthio.
He hath filled me with bitterness; he hath made me drunk with wormwood.
16 Vau Et fregit ad numerum dentes meos; cibavit me cinere.
He hath also broken my teeth with gravel-stones; He hath covered me with ashes.
17 Vau Et repulsa est a pace anima mea; oblitus sum bonorum.
Yea, thou hast removed my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity.
18 Vau Et dixi: Periit finis meus, et spes mea a Domino.
And I say, “My confidence and my hope in Jehovah are gone!”
19 Zain Recordare paupertatis, et transgressionis meæ, absinthii et fellis.
Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall!
20 Zain Memoria memor ero, et tabescet in me anima mea.
Yea, thou wilt remember them, for my soul sinketh within me!
21 Zain Hæc recolens in corde meo, ideo sperabo.
This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope;
22 Heth Misericordiæ Domini, quia non sumus consumpti; quia non defecerunt miserationes ejus.
It is of the mercy of Jehovah that we are not consumed; yea, his compassion faileth not;
23 Heth Novi diluculo, multa est fides tua.
It is new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
24 Heth Pars mea Dominus, dixit anima mea; propterea exspectabo eum.
Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul, therefore do I hope in him.
25 Teth Bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum, animæ quærenti illum.
Jehovah is good to them that trust in him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 Teth Bonum est præstolari cum silentio salutare Dei.
It is good that a man hope, and quietly wait for salvation from Jehovah.
27 Teth Bonum est viro cum portaverit jugum ab adolescentia sua.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth;
28 Jod Sedebit solitarius, et tacebit, quia levavit super se.
That he sit alone and keep silence, since He layeth it upon him;
29 Jod Ponet in pulvere os suum, si forte sit spes.
That he put his mouth in the dust, [[saying to himself, ]] “Perhaps there may be hope!”
30 Jod Dabit percutienti se maxillam: saturabitur opprobriis.
That he offer his cheek to the smiter; that he be filled with reproach.
31 Caph Quia non repellet in sempiternum Dominus.
For the Lord will not cast off forever;
32 Caph Quia si abjecit, et miserebitur, secundum multitudinem misericordiarum suarum.
For though he cause grief, yet doth he have compassion according to his great mercy;
33 Caph Non enim humiliavit ex corde suo et abjecit filios hominum.
For he doth not willingly afflict and grieve the children of men.
34 Lamed Ut conteret sub pedibus suis omnes vinctos terræ.
Doth one trample under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
35 Lamed Ut declinaret judicium viri in conspectu vultus Altissimi.
Doth he bend the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
36 Lamed Ut perverteret hominem in judicio suo; Dominus ignoravit.
Doth he subvert a man in his cause, and shall not the Lord behold it?
37 Mem Quis est iste qui dixit ut fieret, Domino non jubente?
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord hath not commanded?
38 Mem Ex ore Altissimi non egredientur nec mala nec bona?
Cometh not evil, as well as good, from the mouth of the Most High?
39 Mem Quid murmuravit homo vivens, vir pro peccatis suis?
Wherefore then murmureth the living man? Let him murmur at his own sin!
40 Nun Scrutemur vias nostras, et quæramus, et revertamur ad Dominum.
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah!
41 Nun Levemus corda nostra cum manibus ad Dominum in cælos.
Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens!
42 Nun Nos inique egimus, et ad iracundiam provocavimus; idcirco tu inexorabilis es.
We have transgressed; we have rebelled; thou hast not forgiven!
43 Samech Operuisti in furore, et percussisti nos; occidisti, nec pepercisti.
Thou hast hidden thyself in anger, and hast pursued us; thou hast slain and hast not spared;
44 Samech Opposuisti nubem tibi, ne transeat oratio.
Thou hast hidden thyself in a cloud, that our prayer may not pass through;
45 Samech Eradicationem et abjectionem posuisti me in medio populorum.
Thou hast made us the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the nations.
46 Phe Aperuerunt super nos os suum omnes inimici.
All our enemies have opened their mouths against us;
47 Phe Formido et laqueus facta est nobis vaticinatio, et contritio.
Terror and the pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction;
48 Phe Divisiones aquarum deduxit oculus meus, in contritione filiæ populi mei.
Mine eye runneth down with streams of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 Ain Oculus meus afflictus est, nec tacuit, eo quod non esset requies.
Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
50 Ain Donec respiceret et videret Dominus de cælis.
Until Jehovah look down and behold from heaven.
51 Ain Oculus meus deprædatus est animam meam in cunctis filiabus urbis meæ.
Mine eye is painful to me on account of all the daughters of my city.
52 Sade Venatione ceperunt me quasi avem inimici mei gratis.
They that are my enemies without cause hunt me down like a bird;
53 Sade Lapsa est in lacum vita mea, et posuerunt lapidem super me.
They take away my life in the dungeon; they cast a stone upon me;
54 Sade Inundaverunt aquæ super caput meum; dixi: Perii.
Waters flow over my head; I say, “I am undone!”
55 Coph Invocavi nomen tuum, Domine, de lacu novissimo.
I call upon thy name, O Jehovah, from the deep dungeon;
56 Coph Vocem meam audisti; ne avertas aurem tuam a singultu meo et clamoribus.
Hear thou my voice! hide not thine ear from my cry for relief!
57 Coph Appropinquasti in die quando invocavi te; dixisti: Ne timeas.
Be near to me, when I call upon thee! Say, “Fear not!”
58 Res Judicasti, Domine, causam animæ meæ, redemptor vitæ meæ.
Thou maintainest my cause, O Lord; thou redeemest my life!
59 Res Vidisti, Domine, iniquitatem illorum adversum me: judica judicium meum.
Thou, O Jehovah, seest the wrong done to me; Maintain thou my cause!
60 Res Vidisti omnem furorem, universas cogitationes eorum adversum me.
Thou seest all their vengeance, all their devices against me.
61 Sin Audisti opprobrium eorum, Domine, omnes cogitationes eorum adversum me.
Thou hearest their reproach, O Jehovah, all their devices against me,
62 Sin Labia insurgentium mihi, et meditationes eorum adversum me tota die.
The words of my adversaries, and their machinations against me all the day long!
63 Sin Sessionem eorum et resurrectionem eorum vide; ego sum psalmus eorum.
Behold their sitting down and their rising up! I am their song.
64 Thau Redes eis vicem, Domine, juxta opera manuum suarum.
Render to them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands!
65 Thau Dabis eis scutum cordis, laborem tuum.
Give them blindness of mind! thy curse be upon them!
66 Thau Persequeris in furore, et conteres eos sub cælis, Domine.]
Pursue them in thine anger, and destroy them from under Jehovah's heaven!
