Lamentationes 4

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 (Aleph)Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus ! dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum !	1 How the gold has tarnished, how the fine gold has changed! The sacred stones lie scattered at thecorner of every street.
2 (Beth)Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo : quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli !	2 The children of Zion, as precious as finest gold -- to think that they should now be reckoned likecrockery made by a potter!
3 (Ghimel)Sed et lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos : filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.	3 The very jackals give the breast, and suckle their young: but the daughter of my people is as cruel asthe ostriches of the desert.
4 (Daleth)Adhæsit lingua lactentis ad palatum ejus in siti ; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.	4 The tongue of the baby at the breast sticks to its palate for thirst; little children ask for bread, no onegives them any.
5 (He)Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis ; qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.	5 Those who used to eat only the best, now lie dying in the streets; those who were reared in the purpleclaw at the rubbish heaps,
6 (Vau)Et major effecta est iniquitas filiæ populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quæ subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.	6 for the wickedness of the daughter of my people exceeded the sins of Sodom, which was overthrown ina moment without a hand being laid on it.
7 (Zain)Candidiores Nazaræi ejus nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.	7 Once her young people were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; rosier than coral their bodies, theirhue like sapphire.
8 (Heth)Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum et non sunt cogniti in plateis ; adhæsit cutis eorum ossibus : aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.	8 Now their faces are blacker than soot, they are not recognised in the streets, the skin has shrunk overtheir bones, as dry as a stick.
9 (Teth)Melius fuit occisis gladio quam interfectis fame, quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terræ.	9 Happier those killed by the sword than those kil ed by famine: they waste away, sunken for lack of thefruits of the earth.
10 (Jod)Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos ; facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiæ populi mei.	10 With their own hands, kindly women cooked their children; this was their food when the daughter ofmy people was ruined.
11 (Caph)Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suæ : et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta ejus.	11 Yahweh indulged his fury, he vented his fierce anger, he lit a fire in Zion which devoured herfoundations.
12 (Lamed)Non crediderunt reges terræ, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Jerusalem.	12 The kings of the earth never believed, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemywould ever penetrate the gates of Jerusalem.
13 (Mem)Propter peccata prophetarum ejus, et iniquitates sacerdotum ejus, qui effuderunt in medio ejus sanguinem justorum.	13 Owing to the sins of her prophets and the crimes of her priests, who had shed the blood of the upright,in the heart of the city,
14 (Nun)Erraverunt cæci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine ; cumque non possent, tenuerunt lacinias suas.	14 they wandered blindly through the streets, polluted with blood, so that no one dared to touch theirclothes.
15 (Samech)Recedite polluti, clamaverunt eis ; recedite, abite, nolite tangere : jurgati quippe sunt, et commoti dixerunt inter gentes : Non addet ultra ut habitet in eis.	15 'Keep away! Unclean!' people shouted, 'Keep away! Keep away! Don't touch!' If they left and fled tothe nations, they were not al owed to stay there either.
16 (Phe)Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos ; facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.	16 The face of Yahweh destroyed them, he wil look on them no more. There was no respect for thepriests, no deference for the elders.
17 (Ain)Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum ; cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem quæ salvare non poterat.	17 Continual y we were wearing out our eyes, watching for help -- in vain. From our towers we watchedfor a nation which could not save us anyway.
18 (Sade)Lubricaverunt vestigia nostra in itinere platearum nostrarum ; appropinquavit finis noster, completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster.	18 Men dogged our steps, to keep us out of our streets. Our end was near, our days were done, our endhad come.
19 (Coph)Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis cæli ; super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.	19 Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they hounded our steps through the mountains, theylay in ambush for us in the wilds.
20 (Res)Spiritus oris nostri, christus Dominus, captus est in peccatis nostris, cui diximus : In umbra tua vivemus in gentibus.	20 The breath of our nostrils, Yahweh's anointed, was caught in their traps, he of whom we said, 'In hisshadow we shall live among the nations.'
21 (Sin)Gaude et lætare, filia Edom, quæ habitas in terra Hus ! ad te quoque perveniet calix : inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.	21 Rejoice, exult, daughter of Edom, you who reside in Uz! To you in turn the cup wil pass; you wil getdrunk and strip yourself naked!
22 (Thau)Completa est iniquitas tua, filia Sion : non addet ultra ut transmigret te. Visitavit iniquitatem tuam, filia Edom ; discooperuit peccata tua.	22 Your wickedness is atoned for, daughter of Zion, he will never banish you again. But your wickedness,daughter of Edom, wil he punish, your sins he will lay bare!