Lamentations 1
And it came to pass, after Israel was taken captive, and Jerusalem made desolate, that Jeremias sat weeping, and lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and said
Aleph
1 How doth the city that was filled with people sit solitary!
she is become as a widow:
she that was magnified among the nations,
and princess among the provinces,
hath become tributary.
Beth
2 She weepeth sore in the night,
and her tears are on her cheeks;
and there is none of all her lovers to comfort her:
all that were her friends have dealt deceitfully with her,
they are become her enemies.
Gimel
3 Judea is gone into captivity by reason of her affliction,
and by reason of the abundance of her servitude:
she dwelleth among the nations,
she hath not found rest:
all her pursuers have overtaken her between her oppressors.
Daleth
4 The ways of Sion mourn,
[1]because there are none that come to the feast:
all her gates are ruined:
her priests groan,
her virgins are led captive,
and she is in bitterness in herself.
He
5 Her oppressors are become the head,
and her enemies have prospered;
for the Lord hath afflicted her
because of the multitude of her [2]sins:
her young children are gone into captivity
before the face of the oppressor.
Vau
6 And all her beauty hath been taken away
from the daughter of Sion:
her princes were as rams finding no pasture,
and are gone away in weakness
before the face of the pursuer.
Zain
7 Jerusalem remembered the days of her affliction,
and her [3]rejection;
she thought on all her desirable things
which were from the days of old,
when her people fell into the hands of the oppressor,
and there was none to help her:
when her enemies saw it
they laughed at [4]her captivity.
Heth
8 Jerusalem hath sinned a great sin;
therefore hath she come into tribulation,
all that used to honour her have afflicted her,
for they have seen her shame:
yea, she herself groaned, and turned backward.
Teth
9 Her uncleanness is before her feet;
she remembered not her last end;
she hath lowered her [5]boasting tone,
there is none to comfort her.
Behold, O Lord, mine affliction:
for the enemy hath magnified himself.
Jod
10 The oppressor hath stretched out his hand
on all her desirable things:
for she hath seen the Gentiles
entering into her sanctuary,
concerning whom thou didst command
that they should not enter into thy congregation.
Chaph
11 All her people groan,
seeking bread:
they have given their desirable things for meat,
to restore their soul:
behold, Lord, and look;
for she is become dishonoured.
Lamed
12 All ye that pass by the way,
turn, and see if there is sorrow like to my sorrow,
which hath happened to me.
The Lord who spake by me
hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
Mem
13 He hath sent fire from his lofty habitation,
he hath brought it into my bones:
he hath spread a net for my feet,
he hath turned me back:
he hath made me desolate
and mourning all the day.
Nun
14 He hath watched over my sins,
they are twined about my hands,
they have come up on my neck:
my strength hath failed;
for the Lord hath laid pains on my hands,
I shall not be able to stand.
Samech
15 The Lord hath cut off
all my strong men from the midst of me:
he hath summoned against me a time
for crushing my choice men:
the Lord hath trodden a wine-press
for the virgin daughter of Judah:
for these things I weep.
Ain
16 Mine eye hath poured out water,
because he that should comfort me,
that should restore my soul,
hath been removed far from me:
my sons have been destroyed,
because the enemy hath prevailed.
Phe
17 Sion hath spread out her hand,
and there is none to comfort her:
the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob,
his oppressors are round about him:
Jerusalem hath become among them as a removed woman.
Tsade
18 The Lord is righteous;
for I have provoked his mouth:
hear, I pray you, all [6]people,
and behold my grief:
my virgins and my young men
are gone into captivity.
Koph
19 I called my lovers,
but they deceived me:
my priests and mine elders
failed in the city;
for they sought meat
that they might restore their souls,
and found it not.
Rhechs
20 Behold, O Lord; for I am afflicted:
my belly is troubled,
and my heart is turned within me;
for I [7]have been grievously rebellious:
abroad the sword hath bereaved me,
even as death at home.
Chsen
21 Hear, I pray you, for I groan:
there is none to comfort me:
all mine enemies have heard of mine afflictions,
and rejoice because thou hast done it:
thou hast brought on the day,
thou hast called the time:
they are become like to me.
Thau
22 Let all their wickedness come before thy face;
and strip them, as they have made a gleaning for all my sins:
for my groans are many,
and my heart is grieved.
Notes
- 1:4 because there are none: see use of παρὰ, 1 Cor. 12:15, 16 ↩
- 1:5 sins: Gr. ungodlinesses ↩
- 1:7 rejection: Gr. plural ↩
- 1:7 her captivity: Vat. her habitation. Heb. q.d. her sabbatism; KJV her Sabbaths ↩
- 1:9 boasting tone: Gr. plural ↩
- 1:18 people: or, peoples ↩
- 1:20 have been grievously rebellious: or, have provoked and been provoked ↩