Livre des Lamentations 4

JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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. O how the gold has become dulled, the finest color has been altered, the stones of the sanctuary have been scattered at the head 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 famous sons of Zion, and those clothed with the foremost gold: how they have become like earthen vessels, the work of the hands of a potter.
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. Yet even savages expose their breast and give milk to their young. But 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 infant adheres to his palate out of thirst. The little ones have asked for bread, and there was no one to break it for them.
5 Ceux qui mangeaient des mets délicieux expirent dans les rues; ceux qui étaient élevés dans la pourpre étreignent le fumier.	5 HE. Those who were fed indulgently have passed away in the roads. Those who were nourished with saffron have welcomed filth.
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 has been made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and yet hands did not take captives 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 Nazirites were whiter than snow, shinier than milk, more ruddy than ancient ivory, more beautiful than 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 has been blacked more than coals, and they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has adhered to their bones; it dried out and became 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 for those slain by the sword, than for those put to death by famine. For these waste away, being consumed by the sterility of the land.
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 pitiable women have boiled their sons. They became their food in the grief 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 has completed his fury; he has poured out the wrath of his indignation. And he has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured its foundations.
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, did not believe that the adversary and the enemy would enter through 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. It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the just in her midst.
14 Ils erraient en aveugles dans les rues, souillés de sang; alors on ne pouvait toucher leurs vêtements.	14 NUN. They have wandered in the streets like the blind; they have been defiled with blood. And when they were not able, they held their garments.
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. “Go back, you polluted ones!” they cried out to them. “Go back, go away, do not touch!” Of course, they argued, and being removed, they said among the Gentiles, “He will no longer 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 has divided them. He will no longer respect them. They were not ashamed before the faces of the priests, nor did they take pity on the elderly.
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 still standing, our eyes failed, expecting help for us in vain, when we looked attentively toward 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 footsteps have slipped on the paths of our own streets. Our end draws near. Our days have been completed, for our end has arrived.
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 have been swifter than the eagles of the sky. They have been pursuing us above the mountains; they have lain in wait for us in the desert.
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 spirit of our mouth, Christ the Lord, has been captured by our sins; to him, we said, “In your shadow, we will 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. Be glad and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, who dwells in the Land of Uz. The cup will also pass to you; you will be inebriated as well as 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. Your iniquity has been completed, O daughter of Zion. He will no longer send you away to captivity. He has visited your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he has uncovered your sins.