Lamentationes 5
1 Recordare Domine quid acciderit nobis: intuere, et respice opprobrium nostrum.
Remember, O Yahweh, what hath befallen us, Look around, and see our reproach:
2 Hæreditas nostra versa est ad alienos: domus nostræ ad extraneos.
Our inheritance, turned over to foreigners, our houses, to aliens.
3 Pupilli facti sumus absque patre, matres nostræ quasi viduæ.
Orphans, have we become, and fatherless, our mothers, are widows indeed.
4 Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus: ligna nostra pretio comparavimus.
Our water—for silver, have we drunk, our wood—for a price, cometh in.
5 Cervicibus nostris minabamur, lassis non dabatur requies.
Upon our necks, are our pursuers, We labour, and there is allowed us no rest.
6 Ægypto dedimus manum, et Assyriis ut saturaremur pane.
To Egypt, have we stretched out our hand, to Assyria, to be satisfied with bread.
7 Patres nostri peccaverunt, et non sunt: et nos iniquitates eorum portavimus.
Our fathers, sinned, and are not, and, we, their iniquities, have borne.
8 Servi dominati sunt nostri: non fuit qui redimeret de manu eorum.
Slaves, have ruled over us, There is none to set free from their hand.
9 In animabus nostris afferebamus panem nobis, a facie gladii in deserto.
At the risk of our life, do we bring in our bread, because of the sword of the desert.
10 Pellis nostra, quasi clibanus exusta est a facie tempestatum famis.
Our skin, as with a furnace, is scorched, because of the hot winds of famine.
11 Mulieres in Sion humiliaverunt, et virgines in civitatibus Iuda.
Women—in Zion, were ravished, virgins, in the cities of Judah!
12 Principes manu suspensi sunt: facies senum non erubuerunt.
Princes, by their hand, have been hanged, The faces of elders, not honoured.
13 Adolescentibus impudice abusi sunt: et pueri in ligno corruerunt.
Young men, a millstone, have lifted, and, youths, under wood, have staggered.
14 Senes defecerunt de portis: iuvenes de choro psallentium.
Elders, from the gates, have ceased. Young men, from their music.
15 Defecit gaudium cordis nostri: versus est in luctum chorus noster.
Ceased hath the joy of our hearts, Changed to mourning, our dance.
16 Cecidit corona capitis nostri: væ nobis, quia peccavimus.
Fallen is the crown of our head. Surely woe to us, for we have sinned.
17 Propterea mœstum factum est cor nostrum, ideo contenebrati sunt oculi nostri.
For this cause, faint is our heart, For these things, dimmed are our eyes:
18 Propter montem Sion quia disperiit, vulpes ambulaverunt in eo.
Because of Mount Zion, which is desolate, jackals, have gone prowling therein.
19 Tu autem Domine in æternum permanebis, solium tuum in generationem et generationem.
Thou, O Yahweh, unto times age-abiding, dost remain, Thy throne, from generation to generation:
20 Quare in perpetuum oblivisceris nostri? derelinques nos in longitudine dierum?
Wherefore shouldst thou perpetually forget us? forsake us, to length of days?
21 Converte nos Domine ad te, et convertemur: innova dies nostros, sicut a principio.
Bring us back, O Yahweh, unto thyself, and we will come back! Renew our days, as of old;
22 Sed proiiciens repulisti nos, iratus es contra nos vehementer.
For though thou hast not, utterly rejected, us, thou art wroth with us—exceedingly!
