Livre des Lamentations 4

JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Quoi! il s'est terni, l'or, il s'est altéré, l'or si fin! Les pierres sacrées ont été semées au coin de toutes les rues.	1 Aleph. How is the gold become dim, the finest colour is changed, the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street?
2 Les fils de Sion, précieux autant que l'or fin, quoi! ils sont comptés pour des vases d'argile, oeuvre des mains d'un potier!	2 Beth. The noble sons of Sion, and they that were clothed with the best gold: how are they esteemed as earthen vessels, the work of the potter's hands?
3 Même les chacals tendent leurs mamelles et allaitent leurs petits; la fille de mon peuple est devenue cruelle comme les autruches au désert.	3 Ghimel. Even the sea monsters have drawn out the breast, they have given suck to their young: the daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostrich in the desert.
4 De soif, la langue du nourrisson s'attache à son palais; les petits enfants réclament du pain: personne ne leur en partage.	4 Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there was none to break it unto them.
5 Ceux qui mangeaient des mets délicieux expirent dans les rues; ceux qui étaient élevés dans la pourpre étreignent le fumier.	5 He. They that were fed delicately have died in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet have embraced the dung.
6 La faute de la fille de mon peuple a surpassé les péchés de Sodome, qui fut renversée en un instant sans qu'on s'y fatiguât les mains.	6 Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her.
7 Ses jeunes gens étaient plus éclatants que neige, plus blancs que lait; plus vermeil que le corail était leur corps, leur teint était de saphir.	7 Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.
8 Leur visage est plus sombre que la suie, on ne les reconnaît plus dans les rues. Leur peau est collée à leurs os, sèche comme du bois.	8 Heth. Their face is now made blacker than coals, and they are not known in the streets: their skin hath stuck to their bones, it is withered, and is become like wood.
9 Heureuses furent les victimes de l'épée plus que celles de la faim, qui succombent, épuisées, privées des fruits des champs.	9 Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed for want of the fruits of the earth.
10 De tendres femmes ont, de leurs mains, fait cuire leurs petits: ils leur ont servi d'aliment dans le désastre de la fille de mon peuple.	10 Jod. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 Yahvé a assouvi sa fureur, déversé l'ardeur de sa colère, il a allumé en Sion un feu qui a dévoré ses fondations.	11 Caph. The Lord hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Sion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12 Ils ne croyaient pas, les rois de la terre et tous les habitants du monde, que l'oppresseur et l'ennemi franchiraient les portes de Jérusalem.	12 Lamed. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should enter in by the gates of Jerusalem.
13 C'est à cause des péchés de ses prophètes, des fautes de ses prêtres, qui en pleine ville avaient versé le sang des justes!	13 Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
14 Ils erraient en aveugles dans les rues, souillés de sang; alors on ne pouvait toucher leurs vêtements.	14 Nun. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were defiled with blood: and when they could not help walking in it, they held up their skirts.
15 "Arrière! Impur!" leur criait-on, "Arrière! Arrière! Pas de contact!" S'ils partaient et fuyaient chez les nations, ils ne pouvaient y séjourner.	15 Samech. Depart you that are defiled, they cried out to them: Depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they quarrelled, and being removed, they said among the Gentiles: He will no more dwell among them.
16 La Face de Yahvé les dispersa, il ne les regarda plus. On ne marqua plus de respect aux prêtres, d'égard aux anciens.	16 Phe. The face of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, neither had they pity on the ancient.
17 Toujours nos yeux se consumaient, épiant un secours: illusion! De nos tours nous guettions une nation qui ne peut sauver.	17 Ain. While we were yet standing, our eyes failed, expecting help for us in vain, when we looked attentively towards a nation that was not able to save.
18 On observait nos pas, pour nous interdire nos places. Notre fin était proche, nos jours accomplis, oui, notre fin était arrivée!	18 Sade. Our steps have slipped in the way of our streets, our end draweth near: our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.
19 Nos pourchasseurs étaient rapides plus que les aigles du ciel; dans les montagnes ils nous traquaient, nous dressaient des embûches au désert.	19 Coph. Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the air: they pursued us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20 Le souffle de nos narines, l'oint de Yahvé fut pris dans leurs fosses, lui dont nous disions: "A son ombre nous vivrons chez les nations."	20 Res. The breath of our mouth, Christ the Lord, is taken in our sins: to whom we said: Under thy shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.
21 Réjouis-toi, exulte, fille d'Edom, qui habites au pays de Uç! A toi aussi passera la coupe: tu te soûleras et montreras ta nudité!	21 Sin. Rejoice, and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Hus: to thee also shall the cup come, thou shalt be made drunk, and naked.
22 Ta faute est expiée, fille de Sion. Il ne te déportera plus! Il va châtier ta faute, fille d'Edom. Il va dévoiler tes péchés!	22 Thau. Thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Sion, he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he visited thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins. The Prayer of Jeremias the Prophet.