Lamentationes 1
1 Et factum est, postquam in captivitatem redactus est Israel, et Ierusalem deserta est, sedit Ieremias propheta flens, et planxit lamentatione hac in Ierusalem, et amaro animo suspirans, et eiulans dixit: ALEPH. Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo: facta est quasi vidua domina Gentium: princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo.
The city that once was full of people is now sitting all alone. She has become like a widow, though she was a mighty nation. She was a princess among the nations, but is now forced into slavery.
2 BETH. Plorans ploravit in nocte, et lacrymae eius in maxillis eius: non est qui consoletur eam et omnibus charis eius: omnes amici eius spreverunt eam, et facti sunt ei inimici.
She weeps and wails in the night, and her tears cover her cheeks. None of her lovers comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her. They have become her enemies.
3 GHIMEL. Migravit Iuda propter afflictionem, et multitudinem servitutis: habitavit inter gentes, nec invenit requiem: omnes persecutores eius apprehenderunt eam inter angustias.
After poverty and affliction, Judah has gone into exile. She lives among the nations and finds no rest. All her pursuers overtook her in her desperation.
4 DALETH. Viae Sion lugent eo quod non sint qui veniant ad sollemnitatem: omnes portae eius destructae: sacerdotes eius gementes: virgines eius squalidae, et ipsa oppressa amaritudine.
The roads of Zion mourn because none come to the appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate. Her priests groan. Her virgins are sorrowful and she herself is in complete distress.
5 HE. Facti sunt hostes eius in capite, inimici eius locupletati sunt: quia Dominus locutus est super eam propter multitudinem iniquitatum eius: parvuli eius ducti sunt in captivitatem ante faciem tribulantis.
Her adversaries have become her master; her enemies prosper. Yahweh has afflicted her for her many sins. Her little children go into captivity to her adversary.
6 VAU. Et egressus est a filia Sion omnis decor eius: facti sunt principes eius velut arietes non invenientes pascua: et abierunt absque fortitudine ante faciem subsequentis.
Beauty has left the daughter of Zion. Her princes have become like deer that cannot find pasture, and they go without strength before their pursuer.
7 ZAIN. Recordata est Ierusalem dierum afflictionis suae, et praevaricationis omnium desiderabilium suorum, quae habuerat a diebus antiquis, cum caderet populus eius in manu hostili, et non esset auxiliator: viderunt eam hostes, et deriserunt sabbata eius.
In the days of her affliction and her homelessness, Jerusalem will call to mind all her precious treasures that she had in former days. When her people fell into the hand of the adversary, no one helped her. The adversaries saw her and laughed at her destruction.
8 HETH. Peccatum peccavit Ierusalem, propterea instabilis facta est: omnes, qui glorificabant eam, spreverunt illam, quia viderunt ignominiam eius: ipsa autem gemens conversa est retrorsum.
Jerusalem sinned greatly, therefore, she has become scorned as something that is filthy. All who honored her now despise her since they have seen her nakedness. She groans and tries to turn away.
9 TETH. Sordes eius in pedibus eius, nec recordata est finis sui: deposita est vehementer, non habens consolatorem: vide Domine afflictionem meam, quoniam erectus est inimicus.
She has become unclean beneath her skirts. She did not think about her future. Her fall was terrible. There was no one to comfort her. She cried out, “Look at my affliction, Yahweh, for the enemy has become too great!”
10 IOD. Manum suam misit hostis ad omnia desiderabilia eius: quia vidit Gentes ingressas sanctuarium suum, de quibus praeceperas ne intrarent in ecclesiam tuam.
The adversary has put his hand on all our precious treasures. She has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, even though you had commanded that they must not enter into your assembly place.
11 CAPH. Omnis populus eius gemens, et quaerens panem: dederunt pretiosa quaeque pro cibo ad refocillandam animam. vide Domine et considera, quoniam facta sum vilis.
All her people groan as they search for bread. They have given their precious treasures for food to restore their lives. Look, Yahweh, and consider me, for I have become worthless.
12 LAMED. O vos omnes, qui transitis per viam, attendite, et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus: quoniam vindemiavit me ut locutus est Dominus in die irae furoris sui.
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is anyone else's sorrow like the sorrow that is being inflicted on me, since Yahweh has tormented me on the day of his fierce anger.
13 MEM. De excelso misit ignem in ossibus meis, et erudivit me: expandit rete pedibus meis, convertit me retrorsum: posuit me desolatam, tota die moerore confectam.
It is from on high that he has sent fire into my bones, and it has conquered them. He has spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He has made me constantly desolate and weak.
14 NUN. Vigilavit iugum iniquitatum mearum: in manu eius convolutae sunt, et impositae collo meo: Infirmata est virtus mea: dedit me Dominus in manu, de qua non potero surgere.
The yoke of my transgressions is bound together by his hand. They are knit together and placed upon my neck. He has made my strength fail. The Lord has given me over into their hands, and I am not able to stand.
15 SAMECH. Abstulit omnes magnificos meos Dominus de medio mei: vocavit adversum me tempus, ut contereret electos meos: torcular calcavit Dominus virgini filiae Iuda.
The Lord has tossed aside all my mighty men who defended me. He has called an assembly against me to crush my vigorous men. The Lord has trampled the virgin daughter of Judah in the winepress.
16 AIN. Idcirco ego plorans, et oculus meus deducens aquas: quia longe factus est a me consolator, convertens animam meam: facti sunt filii mei perditi, quoniam invaluit inimicus.
For these things I weep, my eyes overflow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one who restores my life. My children are desolate because the enemy has conquered me.
17 PHE. Expandit Sion manus suas, non est qui consoletur eam: mandavit Dominus adversum Iacob in circuitu eius hostes eius: facta est Ierusalem quasi polluta menstruis inter eos.
Zion has spread her hands wide; there is none to comfort her. Yahweh has commanded that those around Jacob should be his adversaries. Jerusalem is something unclean to them.
18 SADE. Iustus est Dominus, quia os eius ad iracundiam provocavi. audite obsecro universi populi, et videte dolorem meum: virgines meae, et iuvenes mei abierunt in captivitatem.
Yahweh is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment. Hear, all you peoples, and see my sorrow. My virgins and my vigorous men have gone into captivity.
19 COPH. Vocavi amicos meos, et ipsi deceperunt me: sacerdotes mei, et senes mei in urbe consumpti sunt: quia quaesierunt cibum sibi ut refocillarent animam suam.
I called for my friends, but they were treacherous toward me. My priests and my elders perished in the city, while they sought food to restore their lives.
20 RES. Vide Domine quoniam tribulor, conturbatus est venter meus: subversum est cor meum in memetipsa, quoniam amaritudine plena sum. foris interfecit gladius, et domi mors similis est.
Look, Yahweh, for I am in distress; my stomach churns, my heart is disturbed within me, for I have been very rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves a mother, inside the house there is only death.
21 SIN. Audierunt quia ingemisco ego, et non est qui consoletur me: omnes inimici mei audierunt malum meum laetati sunt, quoniam tu fecisti: adduxisti diem consolationis, et fient similes mei.
They have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble and they are glad that you have done it. You have brought the day you promised; now let them become like me.
22 THAU. Ingrediatur omne malum eorum coram te: et vindemia eos sicut vindemiasti me propter omnes iniquitates meas: multi enim gemitus mei, et cor meum moerens.
Let all their wickedness come before you. deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions. My groans are many and my heart is faint.
