Lamentationes 3
1 ALEPH. Ego vir videns paupertatem meam in virga indignationis eius.
I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's anger.
2 ALEPH. Me minavit, et adduxit in tenebras, et non in lucem.
He has driven me away, forcing me to walk in darkness instead of the light.
3 ALEPH. Tantum in me vertit, et convertit manum suam tota die.
In fact he hits me again and again all day long.
4 BETH. Vetustam fecit pellem meam, et carnem meam, contrivit ossa mea.
He has worn me out; he has broken me in pieces.
5 BETH. Ædificavit in gyro meo, et circumdedit me felle, et labore.
He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.
6 BETH. In tenebrosis collocavit me, quasi mortuos sempiternos.
He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.
7 GHIMEL. Circumædificavit adversum me, ut non egrediar: aggravavit compedem meum.
He has built a wall around me so I can't escape; he has bound me with heavy chains.
8 GHIMEL. Sed et cum clamavero, et rogavero, exclusit orationem meam.
Even when I keep on crying out for help, he refuses to listen to my prayer.
9 GHIMEL. Conclusit vias meas lapidibus quadris, semitas meas subvertit.
He has put stone blocks in my way and sends me down crooked paths.
10 DALETH. Ursus insidians factus est mihi: leo in absconditis.
He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,
11 DALETH. Semitas meas subvertit, et confregit me: posuit me desolatam.
He dragged me from my path and ripped me to pieces, leaving me helpless.
12 DALETH. Tetendit arcum suum, et posuit me quasi signum ad sagittam.
He loaded his bow with an arrow and used me as his target,
13 HE. Misit in renibus meis filias pharetræ suæ.
He shot me in my kidneys with his arrows.
14 HE. Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo, canticum eorum tota die.
Now everyone laughs at me, singing songs that mock me all day long.
15 HE. Replevit me amaritudinibus, inebriavit me absynthio.
He has filled me with bitterness; he has filled me up with bitter wormwood.
16 VAU. Et fregit ad numerum dentes meos, cibavit me cinere.
He has broken my teeth with grit; he has trampled me in the dust.
17 VAU. Et repulsa est a pace anima mea, oblitus sum bonorum.
Peace has been torn away from me; I've forgotten all that's good in life.
18 VAU. Et dixi: Periit finis meus, et spes mea a Domino.
That's why I say, “My expectation of a long life is gone, along with all that I hoped for from Lord.
19 ZAIN. Recordare paupertatis, et transgressionis meæ, absinthii, et fellis.
Don't forget everything I've suffered in my wandering, as bitters as wormwood and poison.
20 ZAIN. Memoria memor ero, et tabescet in me anima mea.
I certainly haven't forgotten. I remember it all too well, so I sink into depression.
21 ZAIN. Hæc recolens in corde meo, ideo sperabo.
But I still hope when I think about this:
22 HETH. Misericordiæ Domini quia non sumus consumpti: quia non defecerunt miserationes eius.
It's because of the Lord's trustworthy love that our lives are not finished, for through his merciful actions he never lets us down.
23 HETH. Novi diluculo, multa est fides tua.
He renews them every morning. How wonderfully trustworthy you are, Lord!
24 HETH. Pars mea Dominus, dixit anima mea: propterea expectabo eum.
The Lord is all I need,” I tell myself, “so I will put my hope in him.”
25 TETH. Bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum, animæ quærenti illum.
The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to anyone who seeks to follow him.
26 TETH. Bonum est præstolari cum silentio salutare Dei.
It is good to wait quietly for the Lord's salvation.
27 TETH. Bonum est viro, cum portaverit iugum ab adolescentia sua.
It is good for people to learn to patiently bear discipline while they're still young.
28 IOD. Sedebit solitarius, et tacebit: quia levavit super se.
They should sit by themselves in silence, because it's God who has disciplined them.
29 IOD. Ponet in pulvere os suum, si forte sit spes.
They should bow low with their faces to the ground, for there may still be hope.
30 IOD. Dabit percutienti se maxillam, saturabitur opprobriis.
They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.
31 CAPH. Quia non repellet in sempiternum Dominus.
For the Lord won't abandon us forever.
32 CAPH. Quia si abiecit, et miserebitur secundum multitudinem misericordiarum suarum.
Even though he may bring sadness, he shows us mercy because his trustworthy love is so great.
33 CAPH. Non enim humiliavit ex corde suo, et abiecit filios hominum,
For he doesn't willingly hurt people, or cause them grief.
34 LAMED. Ut conteret sub pedibus suis omnes vinctos terræ,
Whether it's mistreating all the prisoners of the land,
35 LAMED. Ut declinaret iudicium viri in conspectu vultus Altissimi.
Or denying someone their rights as the Most High watches,
36 LAMED. Ut perverteret hominem in iudicio suo, Dominus ignoravit.
Or cheating someone in their legal case—these things the Lord doesn't approve of.
37 MEM. Quis est iste, qui dixit ut fieret, Domino non iubente?
Who spoke and it came into existence? Wasn't it the Lord who commanded it?
38 MEM. Ex ore Altissimi non egredientur nec mala nec bona?
When the Most High speaks it can be a disaster or a blessing.
39 MEM. Quid murmuravit homo vivens, vir pro peccatis suis?
Why should any human being complain about the results of their sins?
40 NUN. Scrutemur vias nostras, et quæramus, et revertamur ad Dominum.
We should look at ourselves, examine what we're doing, and return to the Lord.
41 NUN. Levemus corda nostra cum manibus ad Dominum in cælos.
Let's not just hold up our hands to God in heaven, but our minds as well, saying,
42 NUN. Nos inique egimus, et ad iracundiam provocavimus: idcirco tu inexorabilis es.
“We are the ones who sinned; we are the ones who rebelled; and you haven't forgiven us!”
43 SAMECH. Operuisti in furore, et percussisti nos: occidisti, nec pepercisti.
You have wrapped yourself in anger and chased us down, killing without mercy. You have killed without pity.
44 SAMECH. Opposuisti nubem tibi, ne transeat oratio.
You have wrapped yourself with a cloud that no prayer can penetrate.
45 SAMECH. Eradicationem, et abiectionem posuisti me in medio populorum.
You have made us waste and refuse to the nations around.
46 PHE. Aperuerunt super nos os suum omnes inimici.
All our enemies open their mouths to criticize us.
47 PHE. Formido, et laqueus facta est nobis vaticinatio, et contritio.
We're terrified and trapped, devastated and destroyed.
48 PHE. Divisiones aquarum deduxit oculus meus, in contritione filiæ populi mei.
Tears stream from my eyes over the death of my people.
49 AIN. Oculus meus afflictus est, nec tacuit, eo quod non esset requies,
My eyes overflow with tears all the time. They won't stop
50 AIN. Donec respiceret et videret Dominus de cælis.
Until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what's going on.
51 AIN. Oculus meus deprædatus est animam meam in cunctis filiabus urbis meæ.
What I've seen torments me because of what's happened to all the women in my city.
52 SADE. Venatione ceperunt me quasi avem inimici mei gratis.
For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.
53 SADE. Lapsa est in lacum vita mea, et posuerunt lapidem super me.
They tried to kill me by tossing me into a pit and throwing stones at me.
54 SADE. Inundaverunt aquæ super caput meum: dixi: Perii.
Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
55 COPH. Invocavi nomen tuum Domine de lacu novissimo.
I called out for you, Lord, from deep inside the pit.
56 COPH. Vocem meam audisti: ne avertas aurem tuam a singultu meo, et clamoribus.
You heard me when I prayed, “Please don't ignore my cry for help.”
57 COPH. Appropinquasti in die, quando invocavi te: dixisti: Ne timeas.
You came to me when I called you, and you told me, “Don't be afraid!”
58 RES. Iudicasti Domine causam animæ meæ, Redemptor vitæ meæ.
You have taken my case and defended me; you have saved my life!
59 RES. Vidisti Domine iniquitatem illorum adversum me: iudica iudicium meum.
Lord, you have seen the injustices done to me; please vindicate me!
60 RES. Vidisti omnem furorem, universas cogitationes eorum adversum me.
You have observed how vengeful they are and how often they've plotted against me.
61 SIN. Audisti opprobrium eorum Domine, omnes cogitationes eorum adversum me:
Lord, you have heard how they've insulted me, and what they've plotted against me,
62 SIN. Labia insurgentium mihi; et meditationes eorum adversum me tota die.
How my enemies talk against me and complain about me all the time!
63 SIN. Sessionem eorum, et resurrectionem eorum vide, ego sum psalmus eorum.
Just look! Whether they're sitting down and or standing up, they go on making fun of me in their songs.
64 THAU. Redes eis vicem Domine iuxta opera manuum suarum.
Pay them back as they deserve, Lord, for all they've done!
65 THAU. Dabis eis scutum cordis laborem tuum.
Give them a covering for their minds! May your curse be on them!
66 THAU. Persequeris in furore, et conteres eos sub cælis Domine.
Chase them down in your anger, Lord, and get rid of them from the earth!
