1

Incipit Lamentatio Jeremiae Prophetae.

Here begins the Lamentation of Jeremiah the Prophet.

2

Aleph.

Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo: facta est quasi vidua domina Gentium: princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo.

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become a tributary!

3

Beth.

Plorans ploravit in nocte, et lacrimae ejus in maxillis ejus: non est qui consoleteur eam ex omnibus caris ejus: omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam, et facti sunt et inimici.

She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

4

Ghimel.

Migravit Judas propter afflictionem, et multitudinem servitutis: habitavit inter Gentes, nec invenit requiem. Omnes persecutores ejus apprehenderunt earn inter angustias.

Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest. All her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

5

Daleth.

Viae Sion lugent eo quod non sint qui veniant ad solemnitatem: omnes portae ejus destructae: sacerdotes ejus gementes: virgines ejus squalidae, et ipsa oppressa amaritudine.

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

6

He.

Facti sunt hostes ejus in capite, inimici ejus locupletati sunt: quia Dominus locutus est super earn propter multitudinem iniquitatum ejus: parvuli ejus ducti sunt in captivatem, ante faciem tribulantis.

Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper: for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

7

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.

Jerusalem, return thee to the Lord, thy God.

8

Vau.

Et egressus est a filia Sion omnis decor ejus: facti sunt principes ejus velut avrietes non in venientes pascua: et abierunt absque fortitudine ante faciem subsequentis.

And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

9

Zain.

Recordata est, Jerusalem dierum afflictionis suae, et praevaricationis omnium desiderabilium suorum, quae habuerat a diebus antiquis, cum caderet populus ejus in manu hostili et non esset auxiliator: viderunt eam hostes, et deriserunt sabbata ejus.

Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell in the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her Sabbaths.

10

Heth.

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

Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

11

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.

Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully; she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hat magnified himself.

12

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.

Jerusalem, return thee to the Lord, thy God.

13

Jod.

Manum suam misit hostis ad omnia desiderabnilia ejus; quia vidit gentes ingressas Sanctuarium suum, de quibus praeceperas, ne intrarent in Ecclesiam tuam.

The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into Thy congregation.

14

Caph.

Omnis populus ejus gemens, et quaerens panem, dederunt pretiosa quaeque procibo, ad refocillandam animam. Vide, Domine, et considera quoniam facta sum vilis.

All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul; see, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile.

15

Lamed.

O vos omnes, qui transitis per viam, attendite, ete 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 ye that pass by? behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the days of His fierce anger.

16

Mem.

De excelso misit ignem in ossibus meis, et erudivit me: Expandit rete pedibus meis, convertit me retrorsum: posuit me desolatum, tota die moerore confectam.

From above hath He send fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; he hath spread a net for my feet. He hath turned me back. He hath made me desolate and faint all day.

17

Nun.

Vigilavit jugum iniquitatum mearum in manu ejus; convolutae sunt, et impositae collo meo; informata est virtus mea: dedit me Dominus in manu, de qua non potero surgere.

The yoke of my transgressions is bound by His hand; they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: He hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

18

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.

Jerusalem, return thee to the Lord, thy God.