The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 29: Lamentations of Jeremias

THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAS

In these JEREMIAS laments in a most pathetical manner the miseries of
his people, and the destruction of JERUSALEM and the temple, in Hebrew
verses, beginning with different letters according to the order of the
Hebrew alphabet.

Lamentations Chapter 1

PREFACE: And it came to pass, after Israel was carried into captivity,
and Jerusalem was desolate, that Jeremias the prophet sat weeping, and
mourned with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and with a sorrowful mind,
sighing and moaning, he said:

And it came to pass, etc... This preface was not written by Jeremias,
but was added by the seventy interpreters, to give the reader to
understand upon what occasion the Lamentations were published.

1:1. Aleph. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how
is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow: the princes of
provinces made tributary!

1:2. Beth. Weeping, she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her
cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to
her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies.

1:3. Ghimel. Juda hath removed her dwelling place, because of her
affliction, and the greatness of her bondage; she hath dwelt among the
nations, and she hath found no rest; all her persecutors have taken her
in the midst of straits.

1:4. Daleth. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come to
the solemn feast: all her gates are broken down; her priests sigh; her
virgins are in affliction; and she is oppressed with bitterness. 1:5.
He. Her adversaries are become her lords; her enemies are enriched;
because the Lord hath spoken against her for the multitude of her
iniquities; her children are led into captivity, before the face of the
oppressor.

1:6. Vau. And from the daughter of Sion, all her beauty is departed; her
princes are become like rams that find no pastures; and they are gone
away without strength before the face of the pursuer.

1:7. Zain. Jerusalem hath remembered the days of her affliction, and
prevarication of all her desirable things which she had from the days of
old, when her people fell in the enemy's hand, and there was no helper;
the enemies have seen her, and have mocked at her sabbaths.

1:8. Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore is she become
unstable; all that honoured her, have despised her, because they have
seen her shame; but she sighed, and turned backward.

1:9. Teth. Her filthiness is on her feet, and she hath not remembered
her end; she is wonderfully cast down, not having a comforter: behold, O
Lord, my affliction, because the enemy is lifted up.

1:10. Jod. The enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things:
for she hath seen the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, of whom thou
gavest commandment that they should not enter into thy church.

1:11. Caph. All her people sigh, they seek bread: they have given all
their precious things for food to relieve the soul: see, 0 Lord, and
consider, for I am become vile. 1:12. Lamed. O all ye that pass by the
way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he
hath made a vintage of me, as the Lord spoke in the day of his fierce
anger.

1:13. Mem. From above he hath sent fire into my bones, and hath
chastised me: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back:
he hath made me desolate, wasted with sorrow all the day long.

1:14. Nun. The yoke of my iniquities hath watched: they are folded
together in his hand, and put upon my neck: my strength is weakened: the
Lord hath delivered me into a hand, out of which I am not able to rise.
1:15. Samech. The Lord hath taken away all my mighty men out of the
midst of me: he hath called against me the time, to destroy my chosen
men: the Lord hath trodden the winepress for the virgin daughter of
Juda.

1:16. Ain. Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water: because
the comforter, the relief of my soul, is far from me: my children are
desolate because the enemy hath prevailed.

1:17. Phe. Sion hath spread forth her hands, there is none to comfort
her: the Lord hath commanded against Jacob, his enemies are round about
him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

1:18. Sade. The Lord is just, for I have provoked his mouth to wrath:
hear, I pray you, all ye people, and see my sorrow: my virgins, and my
young men are gone into captivity.

1:19. Coph. I called for my friends, but they deceived me: my priests
and my ancients pined away in the city: while they sought their food, to
relieve their souls.

1:20. Res. Behold, 0 Lord, for I am in distress,