Lamentationes 4
1 ALEPH. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus, dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum?
ALEPH. How will the gold be tarnished, [and] the fine silver changed! the sacred stones have been poured forth at the top of all the streets.
2 BETH. Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo: quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli?
BETH. The precious sons of Zion, who were equalled in value with gold, how are they counted as earthen vessels, the works of the hands of the potter!
3 GHIMEL. Sed et lamiae nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos: filia populi mei crudelis, quasi struthio in deserto.
GIMEL. Nay, serpents have drawn out the breasts, they give suck to their young, the daughters of my people are incurably cruel, as an ostrich in a desert.
4 DALETH. Adhaesit lingua lactentis ad palatum eius in siti: parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.
DALETH. The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the little children ask for bread, [and] there is none to break [it] to them.
5 HE. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis: qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.
HE. They that feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that used to be nursed in scarlet have clothed themselves with dung.
6 VAU. Et maior effecta est iniquitas filiae populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quae subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.
VAU. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodoma, [the city] that was overthrown very suddenly, and none laboured against her [with their] hands.
7 ZAIN. Candidiores Nazaraei eius nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.
ZAIN. Her Nazarites were made purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were purified [as] with fire, their polishing was superior to sapphire stone.
8 HETH. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum, et non sunt cogniti in plateis: adhaesit cutis eorum ossibus: aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.
HETH. Their countenance is become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has cleaved to their bones; they are withered, they are become as a stick.
9 TETH. Melius fuit occisis gladio, quam interfectis fame: quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terrae.
TETH. The slain with the sword were better than they that were slain with hunger: they have departed, pierced through from [lack of] the fruits of the field.
10 IOD. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos: facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiae populi mei.
JOD. The hands of tender-hearted women have sodden their own children: they became meat for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 CAPH. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suae: et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta eius.
CHAPH. The Lord has accomplished his wrath; he has poured out fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Sion, and it has devoured her foundations.
12 LAMED. Non crediderunt reges terrae, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Ierusalem:
LAMED. The kings of the earth, [even] all that dwell in the world, believed not that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.
13 MEM. Propter peccata prophetarum eius, et iniquitates sacerdotum eius, qui effuderunt in medio eius sanguinem iustorum.
MEM. For the sins of her prophets, [and] iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her,
14 NUN. Erraverunt caeci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine: cumque non possent intrare, tenuerunt lacinias suas.
NUN. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their raiment [with it].
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.
SAMECH. Depart you from the unclean ones: call you them: depart, depart, touch [them] not: for they are on fire, yes, they stagger: say you amongst the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].
16 PHE. Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos: facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.
AIN. The presence of the Lord [was] their portion; [but] he will not again look upon them: they regarded not the person of the priests, they pitied not the prophets.
17 AIN. Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum, cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem, quae salvare non poterat.
PHE. While we yet lived our eyes failed, while we looked in vain for our help. TSADE. We looked to 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.
We have hunted [for] our little ones, that they should not walk in our streets. KOPH. Our time has drawn near, our days are fulfilled, our time is come.
19 COPH. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis caeli: super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky, they flew on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us.
20 RES. Spiritus oris nostri Christus Dominus captus est in peccatis nostris: cui diximus: In umbra tua vivemus in Gentibus.
RECHS. The breath of our nostrils, [our] anointed Lord, was taken in their destructive snares, of whom we said, In his shadow we shall live amongst the Gentiles.
21 SIN. Gaude, et laetare filia Edom, quae habitas in Terra Hus: ad te quoque perveniet calix, inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.
CHSEN. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Idumea, that dwell in the land: yet the cup of the Lord shall pass through to you: you shall be drunken, and pour forth.
22 THAU. Completa est iniquitas tua filia Sion, non addet ultra ut transmigret te: visitavit iniquitatem tuam filia Edom, discooperuit peccata tua.
THAU. O daughter of Sion, your iniquity has come to an end; he shall no more carry you captive: he has visited your iniquities, O daughter of Edom; he has discovered your sins.
