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Lamentations 1

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καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὸ αἰχμαλωτισθῆναι τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ Ιερουσαλημ ἐρημωθῆναι ἐκάθισεν Ιερεμιας κλαίων καὶ ἐθρήνησεν τὸν θρῆνον τοῦτον ἐπὶ Ιερουσαλημ καὶ εἶπεν

p>When Israel was brought into captivity, and Jerusalem left deserted, the prophet Jeremias sat down there and wept, with this mournful lamentation following. And as he spoke, ever he sighed and moaned in the bitterness of his heart.

Prologus. Et factum est, postquam in captivitatem redactus est Israël, et Jerusalem deserta est, sedit Jeremias propheta flens, et planxit lamentatione hac in Jerusalem: et amaro animo suspirans et ejulans, dixit:

1 πῶς ἐκάθισεν μόνη ἡ πόλις ἡ πεπληθυμμένη λαῶν ἐγενήθη ὡς χήρα πεπληθυμμένη ἐν ἔθνεσιν ἄρχουσα ἐν χώραις ἐγενήθη εἰς φόρον

1 Alone she dwells, the city erewhile so populous; a widow now, once a queen among the nations; tributary now, that once had provinces at her command.

1

Aleph. Quomodo sedet sola
civitas plena populo!
Facta est quasi vidua
domina gentium;
princeps provinciarum
facta est sub tributo.

2 κλαίουσα ἔκλαυσεν ἐν νυκτί καὶ τὰ δάκρυα αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τῶν σιαγόνων αὐτῆς καὶ οὐχ ὑπάρχει ὁ παρακαλῶν αὐτὴν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἀγαπώντων αὐτήν πάντες οἱ φιλοῦντες αὐτὴν ἠθέτησαν ἐν αὐτῇ ἐγένοντο αὐτῇ εἰς ἐχθρούς

2 Be sure she weeps; there in the darkness her cheeks are wet with tears; of all that courted her, none left to console her, all those lovers grown weary of her, and turned into enemies.

2
Beth. Plorans ploravit in nocte,
et lacrimæ ejus in maxillis ejus:
non est qui consoletur eam,
ex omnibus caris ejus;
omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam,
et facti sunt ei inimici.

3 μετῳκίσθη ἡ Ιουδαία ἀπὸ ταπεινώσεως αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπὸ πλήθους δουλείας αὐτῆς ἐκάθισεν ἐν ἔθνεσιν οὐχ εὗρεν ἀνάπαυσιν πάντες οἱ καταδιώκοντες αὐτὴν κατέλαβον αὐτὴν ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν θλιβόντων

3 Cruel the suffering and the bondage of Juda’s exile;[1] that she must needs dwell among the heathen! Nor respite can she find; close at her heels the pursuit, and peril on either hand.

3
Ghimel. Migravit Judas propter afflictionem,
et multitudinem servitutis;
habitavit inter gentes,
nec invenit requiem:
omnes persecutores ejus apprehenderunt eam
inter angustias.

4 ὁδοὶ Σιων πενθοῦσιν παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ἐρχομένους ἐν ἑορτῇ πᾶσαι αἱ πύλαι αὐτῆς ἠφανισμέναι οἱ ἱερεῖς αὐτῆς ἀναστενάζουσιν αἱ παρθένοι αὐτῆς ἀγόμεναι καὶ αὐτὴ πικραινομένη ἐν ἑαυτῇ

4 Desolate, the streets of Sion; no flocking, now, to the assembly; the gateways lie deserted. Sighs priest, and the maidens go in mourning, so bitter the grief that hangs over all.

4
Daleth. Viæ Sion lugent, eo quod non sint
qui veniant ad solemnitatem:
omnes portæ ejus destructæ,
sacerdotes ejus gementes;
virgines ejus squalidæ,
et ipsa oppressa amaritudine.

5 ἐγένοντο οἱ θλίβοντες αὐτὴν εἰς κεφαλήν καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτῆς εὐθηνοῦσαν ὅτι κύριος ἐταπείνωσεν αὐτὴν ἐπὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀσεβειῶν αὐτῆς τὰ νήπια αὐτῆς ἐπορεύθησαν ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ κατὰ πρόσωπον θλίβοντος

5 Exultant, now, her invaders; with her enemies nothing goes amiss. For her many sins, the Lord has brought doom on her, and all her children have gone into exile, driven before the oppressor.

5
He. Facti sunt hostes ejus in capite;
inimici ejus locupletati sunt:
quia Dominus locutus est super eam
propter multitudinem iniquitatum ejus.
Parvuli ejus ducti sunt in captivitatem
ante faciem tribulantis.

6 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ θυγατρὸς Σιων πᾶσα ἡ εὐπρέπεια αὐτῆς ἐγένοντο οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῆς ὡς κριοὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκοντες νομὴν καὶ ἐπορεύοντο ἐν οὐκ ἰσχύι κατὰ πρόσωπον διώκοντος

6 Fled is her beauty, the Sion that was once so fair; her chieftains have yielded their ground before the pursuer, strengthless as rams[2] that can find no pasture.

6
Vau. Et egressus est a filia Sion
omnis decor ejus;
facti sunt principes ejus velut arietes
non invenientes pascua,
et abierunt absque fortitudine
ante faciem subsequentis.

7 ἐμνήσθη Ιερουσαλημ ἡμερῶν ταπεινώσεως αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπωσμῶν αὐτῆς πάντα τὰ ἐπιθυμήματα αὐτῆς ὅσα ἦν ἐξ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων ἐν τῷ πεσεῖν τὸν λαὸν αὐτῆς εἰς χεῖρας θλίβοντος καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βοηθῶν αὐτῇ ἰδόντες οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτῆς ἐγέλασαν ἐπὶ μετοικεσίᾳ αὐτῆς

7 Grievous the memories she holds, of the hour when all her ancient glories passed from her, when her people fell defenceless before the invader, unresisting before an enemy that derided them.[3]

7
Zain. Recordata est Jerusalem dierum afflictionis suæ,
et prævaricationis,
omnium desiderabilium suorum,
quæ habuerat a diebus antiquis,
cum caderet populus ejus in manu hostili,
et non esset auxiliator:
viderunt eam hostes,
et deriserunt sabbata ejus.

8 ἁμαρτίαν ἥμαρτεν Ιερουσαλημ διὰ τοῦτο εἰς σάλον ἐγένετο πάντες οἱ δοξάζοντες αὐτὴν ἐταπείνωσαν αὐτήν εἶδον γὰρ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς καί γε αὐτὴ στενάζουσα καὶ ἀπεστράφη ὀπίσω

8 Heinously Jerusalem sinned; what wonder if she became an outlaw?[4] How they fell to despising her when they saw her shame, that once flattered her! Deeply she sighed, and turned away her head.

8
Heth. Peccatum peccavit Jerusalem,
propterea instabilis facta est;
omnes qui glorificabant eam spreverunt illam,
quia viderunt ignominiam ejus:
ipsa autem gemens
conversa est retrorsum.

9 ἀκαθαρσία αὐτῆς πρὸς ποδῶν αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐμνήσθη ἔσχατα αὐτῆς καὶ κατεβίβασεν ὑπέρογκα οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ παρακαλῶν αὐτήν ἰδέ κύριε τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου ὅτι ἐμεγαλύνθη ἐχθρός

9 Ill might skirts of her robe the defilement conceal; alas, so reckless of her doom, alas, fallen so low, with none to comfort her! Mark it well, Lord; see how humbled I, how exultant my adversary!

9
Teth. Sordes ejus in pedibus ejus,
nec recordata est finis sui;
deposita est vehementer,
non habens consolatorem.
Vide, Domine, afflictionem meam,
quoniam erectus est inimicus.

10 χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐξεπέτασεν θλίβων ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἐπιθυμήματα αὐτῆς εἶδεν γὰρ ἔθνη εἰσελθόντα εἰς τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτῆς ἃ ἐνετείλω μὴ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτὰ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν σου

10 Jealous hands were laid on all she treasured; so it was that she must see Gentiles profane her sanctuary, Gentiles, by thy ordinance from the assembly debarred.

10
Jod. Manum suam misit hostis
ad omnia desiderabilia ejus,
quia vidit gentes
ingressas sanctuarium suum,
de quibus præceperas
ne intrarent in ecclesiam tuam.

11 πᾶς ὁ λαὸς αὐτῆς καταστενάζοντες ζητοῦντες ἄρτον ἔδωκαν τὰ ἐπιθυμήματα αὐτῆς ἐν βρώσει τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι ψυχήν ἰδέ κύριε καὶ ἐπίβλεψον ὅτι ἐγενήθην ἠτιμωμένη

11 Kindred was none but went sighing for lack of bread, offered its precious heirlooms for food to revive men’s hearts. Mark it well, Lord, and see my pride abased!

11
Caph. Omnis populus ejus gemens,
et quærens panem;
dederunt pretiosa quæque pro cibo
ad refocillandam animam.
Vide, Domine, et considera
quoniam facta sum vilis!

12 οὐ πρὸς ὑμᾶς πάντες οἱ παραπορευόμενοι ὁδόν ἐπιστρέψατε καὶ ἴδετε εἰ ἔστιν ἄλγος κατὰ τὸ ἄλγος μου ὃ ἐγενήθη φθεγξάμενος ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐταπείνωσέν με κύριος ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ

12 Look well, you that pass by, and say if there was ever grief like this grief of mine; never a grape on the vineyard left to glean, when the Lord’s threat of vengeance is fulfilled.[5]

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 iræ furoris sui.

13 ἐξ ὕψους αὐτοῦ ἀπέστειλεν πῦρ ἐν τοῖς ὀστέοις μου κατήγαγεν αὐτό διεπέτασεν δίκτυον τοῖς ποσίν μου ἀπέστρεψέν με εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω ἔδωκέν με ἠφανισμένην ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ὀδυνωμένην

13 Must fire from heaven waste my whole being, ere I can learn my lesson? Must he catch me in a net, to drag me back from my course? Desolate he leaves me, to pine away all the day long with grief.

13
Mem. De excelso misit ignem in ossibus meis,
et erudivit me:
expandit rete pedibus meis,
convertit me retrorsum;
posuit me desolatam,
tota die mœrore confectam.

14 ἐγρηγορήθη ἐπὶ τὰ ἀσεβήματά μου ἐν χερσίν μου συνεπλάκησαν ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλόν μου ἠσθένησεν ἡ ἰσχύς μου ὅτι ἔδωκεν κύριος ἐν χερσίν μου ὀδύνας οὐ δυνήσομαι στῆναι

14 No respite it gives me, the yoke of guilt I bear, by his hand fastened down upon my neck; see, I faint under it! The Lord has given me up a prisoner to duress there is no escaping.

14
Nun. Vigilavit jugum iniquitatum mearum;
in manu ejus convolutæ sunt,
et impositæ collo meo.
Infirmata est virtus mea:
dedit me Dominus in manu
de qua non potero surgere.

15 ἐξῆρεν πάντας τοὺς ἰσχυρούς μου ὁ κύριος ἐκ μέσου μου ἐκάλεσεν ἐ{P'} ἐμὲ καιρὸν τοῦ συντρῖψαι ἐκλεκτούς μου ληνὸν ἐπάτησεν κύριος παρθένῳ θυγατρὶ Ιουδα ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐγὼ κλαίω

15 Of all I had, the Lord has taken away the noblest; lost to me, all the flower of my chivalry, under his strict audit; Sion, poor maid, here was a wine-press well trodden down!

15
Samech. Abstulit omnes magnificos meos Dominus
de medio mei;
vocavit adversum me tempus
ut contereret electos meos.
Torcular calcavit Dominus
virgini filiæ Juda.

16 ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου κατήγαγεν ὕδωρ ὅτι ἐμακρύνθη ἀ{P'} ἐμοῦ ὁ παρακαλῶν με ὁ ἐπιστρέφων ψυχήν μου ἐγένοντο οἱ υἱοί μου ἠφανισμένοι ὅτι ἐκραταιώθη ὁ ἐχθρός

16 Pray you, should I not weep? Fountains these eyes are, that needs must flow; comforter is none at hand, that should revive my spirits. Lost to me, all those sons of mine, outmatched by their enemy.

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.

17 διεπέτασεν Σιων χεῖρας αὐτῆς οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ παρακαλῶν αὐτήν ἐνετείλατο κύριος τῷ Ιακωβ κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ οἱ θλίβοντες αὐτόν ἐγενήθη Ιερουσαλημ εἰς ἀποκαθημένην ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν

17 Quest for consolation is vain, let her plead where she will; neighbours of Jacob, so the Lord decrees, are Jacob’s enemies, and all around they shrink from her, as from a thing unclean.

17
Phe. Expandit Sion manus suas;
non est qui consoletur eam.
Mandavit Dominus adversum Jacob
in circuitu ejus hostes ejus;
facta est Jerusalem
quasi polluta menstruis inter eos.

18 δίκαιός ἐστιν κύριος ὅτι τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ παρεπίκρανα ἀκούσατε δή πάντες οἱ λαοί καὶ ἴδετε τὸ ἄλγος μου παρθένοι μου καὶ νεανίσκοι μου ἐπορεύθησαν ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ

18 Right the Lord has in his quarrel; I have set his commands at defiance. O world, take warning; see what pangs I suffer, all my folk gone into exile, both man and maid.

18
Sade. Justus est Dominus,
quia os ejus ad iracundiam provocavi.
Audite, obsecro, universi populi,
et videte dolorem meum:
virgines meæ et juvenes mei abierunt
in captivitatem.

19 ἐκάλεσα τοὺς ἐραστάς μου αὐτοὶ δὲ παρελογίσαντό με οἱ ἱερεῖς μου καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροί μου ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐξέλιπον ὅτι ἐζήτησαν βρῶσιν αὐτοῖς ἵνα ἐπιστρέψωσιν ψυχὰς αὐτῶν καὶ οὐχ εὗρον

19 So false the friends that were once my suitors! And now the city lacks priests and elders both, that went begging their bread, to revive the heart in them.

19
Coph. Vocavi amicos meos,
et ipsi deceperunt me;
sacerdotes mei et senes mei
in urbe consumpti sunt,
quia quæsierunt cibum sibi
ut refocillarent animam suam.

20 ἰδέ κύριε ὅτι θλίβομαι ἡ κοιλία μου ἐταράχθη καὶ ἡ καρδία μου ἐστράφη ἐν ἐμοί ὅτι παραπικραίνουσα παρεπίκρανα ἔξωθεν ἠτέκνωσέν με μάχαιρα ὥσπερ θάνατος ἐν οἴκῳ

20 Take note, Lord, of my anguish, how my bosom burns, and my heart melts within me, in bitter ruth.[6] And all the while, sword threatens without, and death not less cruel within.

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.

21 ἀκούσατε δὴ ὅτι στενάζω ἐγώ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ παρακαλῶν με πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί μου ἤκουσαν τὰ κακά μου καὶ ἐχάρησαν ὅτι σὺ ἐποίησας ἐπήγαγες ἡμέραν ἐκάλεσας καιρόν καὶ ἐγένοντο ὅμοιοι ἐμοί

21 Uncomforted my sorrow, but not unheard; my enemies hear it, and rejoice that my miseries are of thy contriving. Ah, but when thy promise comes true, they shall feel my pangs!

21
Sin. Audierunt quia ingemisco ego,
et non est qui consoletur me;
omnes inimici mei audierunt malum meum,
lætati sunt quoniam tu fecisti:
adduxisti diem consolationis,
et fient similes mei.

22 εἰσέλθοι πᾶσα ἡ κακία αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου καὶ ἐπιφύλλισον αὐτοῖς ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν ἐπιφυλλίδα περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων μου ὅτι πολλοὶ οἱ στεναγμοί μου καὶ ἡ καρδία μου λυπεῖται

22 Vintager who didst leave my boughs so bare, for my much offending, mark well their cruelty, and strip these too in their turn; here be sighs a many, and a sad heart to claim it.

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 mœrens.

[1] Literally, this verse appears to imply that Juda has gone into exile because of affliction; and some think the reference is to refugee Jews in Egypt and elsewhere. But the word used for ‘exile’ really means ‘deportation’.

[2] In the Hebrew text, ‘stags’.

[3] Literally, ‘her enemies derided her sabbath’, that is, her quiescence. The Hebrew text is generally interpreted as meaning that Sion, in her affliction, remembers her past glories; but the expression is obscure.

[4] ‘An outlaw’; literally, ‘unable to hold her ground’; but the word used in the Hebrew text implies ceremonial defilement.

[5] The opening of this verse, in the Hebrew text, is of uncertain interpretation; some think the meaning is, ‘May it never happen to you!’ The vineyard metaphor used here and in verse 22 seems due to a mistaken interpretation in the Latin.

[6] Literally, ‘for I am full of bitterness’. But the Hebrew text has, ‘for truth it is that I have rebelled against thee’.

Knox Translation Copyright © 2013 Westminster Diocese
Nihil Obstat. Father Anton Cowan, Censor.
Imprimatur. +Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. 8th January 2012.
Re-typeset and published in 2012 by Baronius Press Ltd