Lamentationes 4
1 ALEPH. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus, dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum.
How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! The hallowed stones are poured out at the head of every street.
2 BETH. Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo: quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli?
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 GHIMEL. Sed et lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos: filia populi mei crudelis, quasi struthio in deserto.
Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones; the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 DALETH. Adhæsit lingua lactentis ad palatum eius in siti: parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the young children ask bread, and none breaketh it unto them.
5 HE. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis: qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.
They that did feed on dainties are desolate in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6 VAU. Et maior effecta est iniquitas filiæ populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quæ subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands fell upon her.
7 ZAIN. Candidiores Nazaræi eius nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.
Her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire;
8 HETH. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum, et non sunt cogniti in plateis: adhæsit cutis eorum ossibus: aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.
Their visage is blacker than coal; they are not known in the streets; their skin is shrivelled upon their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9 TETH. Melius fuit occisis gladio, quam interfectis fame: quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terræ.
They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
10 IOD. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos: facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiæ populi mei.
The hands of women full of compassion have sodden their own children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 CAPH. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suæ: et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta eius.
The LORD hath accomplished His fury, He hath poured out His fierce anger; and He hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12 LAMED. Non crediderunt reges terræ, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Ierusalem:
The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
13 MEM. Propter peccata prophetarum eius, et iniquitates sacerdotum eius, qui effuderunt in medio eius sanguinem iustorum.
It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
14 NUN. Erraverunt cæci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine: cumque non possent, tenuerunt lacinias suas.
They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, so that men cannot touch their garments.
15 SAMECH. Recedite polluti, clamaverunt eis: recedite, abite, nolite tangere: iurgati quippe sunt, et commoti dixerunt inter Gentes: Non addet ultra ut habitet in eis.
'Depart ye! unclean!' men cried unto them, 'Depart, depart, touch not'; yea, they fled away and wandered; men said among the nations: 'They shall no more sojourn here.'
16 PHE. Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos: facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.
The anger of the LORD hath divided them; He will no more regard them; they respected not the persons of the priests, they were not gracious unto the elders.
17 AIN. Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum, cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem, quæ salvare non poterat.
As for us, our eyes do yet fail for our vain help; in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
18 SADE. Lubricaverunt vestigia nostra in itinere platearum nostrarum, appropinquavit finis noster: completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster.
They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our broad places; our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19 COPH. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis cæli: super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heaven; they chased us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20 RES. Spiritus oris nostri Christus Dominus captus est in peccatis nostris: cui diximus: In umbra tua vivemus in Gentibus.
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said: 'Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.'
21 SIN. Gaude, et lætare filia Edom, quæ habitas in Terra Hus: ad te quoque perveniet calix, inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz: the cup shall pass over unto thee also; thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
22 THAU. Completa est iniquitas tua filia Sion, non addet ultra ut transmigret te: visitavit iniquitatem tuam filia Edom, discooperuit peccata tua.
The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion, He will no more carry thee away into captivity; He will punish thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He will uncover thy sins.
