Lamentations 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NOVA VULGATA
1 How tarnished is the gold, how changed the noble metal; How the sacred stones lie strewn at every street corner!	1 ALEPH. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatum est obryzum optimum! Dispersi sunt lapides sancti in capite omnium platearum.
2 Zion's precious sons, fine gold their counterpart, Now worth no more than earthen jars made by the hands of a potter!	2 BETH. Filii Sion incliti et ponderati auro primo, quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli!
3 Even the jackals bare their breasts and suckle their young; The daughter of my people has become as cruel as the ostrich in the desert.	3 GHIMEL. Sed et thoes nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos; filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.
4 The tongue of the suckling cleaves to the roof of its mouth in thirst; The babes cry for food, but there is no one to give it to them.	4 DALETH. Adhaesit lingua lactantis ad palatum eius in siti; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.
5 Those accustomed to dainty food perish in the streets; Those brought up in purple now cling to the ash heaps.	5 HE. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis; qui nutriebantur in coccinis, amplexati sunt stercora.
6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the penalty of Sodom, Which was overthrown in an instant without the turning of a hand.	6 VAU. Et maior effecta est iniquitas filiae populi mei peccato Sodomae, quae subversa est in momento, et non laborabant in ea manus.
7 Brighter than snow were her princes, whiter than milk, More ruddy than coral, more precious than sapphire.	7 ZAIN. Candidiores nazaraei eius nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores in corpore coralliis, sapphirus aspectus eorum.
8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot, they are unrecognized on the streets; Their skin shrinks on their bones, as dry as wood.	8 HETH. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum, et non sunt cogniti in plateis: adhaesit cutis eorum ossibus, aruit et facta est quasi lignum.
9 Better for those who perish by the sword than for those who die of hunger, Who waste away, as though pierced through, lacking the fruits of the field!	9 TETH. Melius fuit occisis gladio quam interfectis fame, quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terrae.
10 The hands of compassionate women boiled their own children, To serve them as mourners' food in the downfall of the daughter of my people.	10 IOD. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos: facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiae populi mei.
11 The LORD has spent his anger, poured out his blazing wrath; He has kindled a fire in Zion that has consumed her foundations.	11 CAPH. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suae; et succendit ignem in Sion, qui devoravit fundamenta eius.
12 The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the world's inhabitants, That enemy or foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.	12 LAMED. Non crediderunt reges terrae et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Ierusalem.
13 Because of the sins of her prophets and the crimes of her priests, Who shed in her midst the blood of the just!--	13 MEM. Propter peccata prophetarum eius et iniquitates sacerdotum eius, qui effuderunt in medio eius sanguinem iustorum.
14 They staggered blindly in the streets, soiled with blood, So that people could not touch even their garments:	14 NUN. Erraverunt caeci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine, ita ut nemo posset attingere lacinias eorum.
15 "Away you unclean!" they cried to them, "Away, away, do not draw near!" If they left and wandered among the nations, nowhere could they remain.	15 SAMECH. “ Recedite! Pollutus est ”, clamaverunt eis; “ Recedite, abite, nolite tangere! ”. Cum fugerent et errarent, dixerunt inter gentes: “ Non addent ultra ut incolant ”.
16 The LORD himself has dispersed them, he regards them no more; He does not receive the priests with favor, nor show kindness to the elders.	16 PHE. Facies Domini dispersit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos; facies sacerdotum non respexerunt neque senum miserti sunt.
17 Our eyes ever wasted away, looking in vain for aid; From our watchtower we watched for a nation that could not save us.	17 AIN. Adhuc deficiunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum? In specula nostra respeximus ad gentem, quae salvare non potest.
18 Men dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; Our end drew near, and came; our time had expired.	18 SADE. Insidiati sunt vestigiis nostris, ne iremus per plateas nostras. “ Appropinquavit finis noster, completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster ”.
19 Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the air, They harassed us on the mountains and waylaid us in the desert.	19 COPH. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis caeli; super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.
20 The anointed one of the LORD, our breath of life, was caught in their snares, He in whose shadow we thought we could live on among the nations.	20 RES. Spiritus oris nostri, unctus Domini, captus est in foveis eorum, de quo dicebamus: “ Sub umbra sua vivemus in gentibus ”.
21 Though you rejoice and are glad, O daughter Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz, To you also shall the cup be passed; you shall become drunk and naked.	21 SIN. Gaude et laetare, filia Edom, quae habitas in terra Us; ad te quoque perveniet calix, inebriaberis atque nudaberis.
22 Your chastisement is completed, O daughter Zion, he will not prolong your exile; But your wickedness, O daughter Edom, he will punish, he will lay bare your sins.	22 THAU. Completa est iniquitas tua, filia Sion, non addet ultra ut transmigret te; visitavit iniquitatem tuam, filia Edom, discooperuit peccata tua.