Lamentationes, 4

1. ALEPH. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatum est obryzum optimum! Dispersi sunt lapides sancti in capite omnium platearum.

1. How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street.

2. BETH. Filii Sion incliti et ponderati auro primo, quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli!

2. The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are reckoned as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands!

3. GHIMEL. Sed et thoes nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos; filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.

3. Even the jackals give the breast and suckle their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

4. DALETH. Adhaesit lingua lactantis ad palatum eius in siti; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.

4. The tongue of the nursling cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them.

5. HE. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis; qui nutriebantur in coccinis, amplexati sunt stercora.

5. Those who feasted on dainties perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple lie on ash heaps.

6. VAU. Et maior effecta est iniquitas filiae populi mei peccato Sodomae, quae subversa est in momento, et non laborabant in ea manus.

6. For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, no hand being laid on it.

7. ZAIN. Candidiores nazaraei eius nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores in corpore coralliis, sapphirus aspectus eorum.

7. Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire.

8. HETH. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum, et non sunt cogniti in plateis: adhaesit cutis eorum ossibus, aruit et facta est quasi lignum.

8. Now their visage is blacker than soot, they are not recognized in the streets; their skin has shriveled upon their bones, it has become as dry as wood.

9. TETH. Melius fuit occisis gladio quam interfectis fame, quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terrae.

9. Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who pined away, stricken by want of the fruits of the field.

10. IOD. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos: facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiae populi mei.

10. The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11. CAPH. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suae; et succendit ignem in Sion, qui devoravit fundamenta eius.

11. The LORD gave full vent to his wrath, he poured out his hot anger; and he kindled a fire in Zion, which consumed its foundations.

12. LAMED. Non crediderunt reges terrae et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Ierusalem.

12. The kings of the earth did not believe, or any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

13. MEM. Propter peccata prophetarum eius et iniquitates sacerdotum eius, qui effuderunt in medio eius sanguinem iustorum.

13. This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.

14. NUN. Erraverunt caeci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine, ita ut nemo posset attingere lacinias eorum.

14. They wandered, blind, through the streets, so defiled with blood that none could touch their garments.

15. SAMECH. “Recedite! Pollutus est”, clamaverunt eis; “Recedite, abite, nolite tangere!”. Cum fugerent et errarent, dixerunt inter gentes: “Non addent ultra ut incolant”.

15. "Away! Unclean!" men cried at them; "Away! Away! Touch not!" So they became fugitives and wanderers; men said among the nations, "They shall stay with us no longer."

16. PHE. Facies Domini dispersit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos; facies sacerdotum non respexerunt neque senum miserti sunt.

16. The LORD himself has scattered them, he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.

17. AIN. Adhuc deficiunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum? In specula nostra respeximus ad gentem, quae salvare non potest.

17. Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.

18. SADE. Insidiati sunt vestigiis nostris, ne iremus per plateas nostras. “Appropinquavit finis noster, completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster”.

18. Men dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered; for our end had come.

19. COPH. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis caeli; super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.

19. Our pursuers were swifter than the vultures in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20. RES. Spiritus oris nostri, unctus Domini, captus est in foveis eorum, de quo dicebamus: “Sub umbra sua vivemus in gentibus”.

20. The breath of our nostrils, the LORD's anointed, was taken in their pits, he of whom we said, "Under his shadow we shall live among the nations."

21. SIN. Gaude et laetare, filia Edom, quae habitas in terra Us; ad te quoque perveniet calix, inebriaberis atque nudaberis.

21. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, dweller in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.

22. THAU. Completa est iniquitas tua, filia Sion, non addet ultra ut transmigret te; visitavit iniquitatem tuam, filia Edom, discooperuit peccata tua.

22. The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished, he will keep you in exile no longer; but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish, he will uncover your sins.