Leçons de ténèbres

Tekst (Latijn) en vertaling (Nederlands)
Lamentations complete (Vulgate-English) below

meteen naar de tekst met vertalingen

Vooropmerking: de leçons (lezingen) voor de 'Tenebrae' (nachtelijke vieringen in de Goede Week) bestaan uit delen van de Klaagliederen van Jeremia. Men kan echter niet zomaar een Nederlandse vertaling van dit bijbelboek nemen omdat de Latijnse tekst van Hieronymus (ca. 400, gewoonlijk de 'vulgaat' genoemd) zelf een vertaling is. Vaak maakte hij andere vertaalkeuzes dan moderne bijbelvertalers, en soms wist hij het gewoon niet, en dan vertaalde hij gewoon 'woordelijk'. Het Hebreeuws is poëtisch, plastisch, en beeldend, maar niet altijd helder. Ook als men de woorden wel kan vertalen, dan nog is de zin (betekenis) niet altijd duidelijk. Eigentijdse vertalers parafraseren vaak stiekem 'in de richting van wat de vertaler denkt dat de oorspronkelijke auteur wel bedoeld zal hebben'. Hieronder bied ik een Nederlandse vertaling aan van de Latijnse tekst van Hiëronymus, naar eer en geweten 'overgezet'.

 

De leçons zijn de lezingen van de eerste nocturne (nachtgebed) van de 'metten' van de drie heilige dagen van de Goede Week: Witte Donderdag, Goede Vrijdag, Stille Zaterdag. De 'getijdengebeden' worden gebeden in de kloosters en door hogere geestelijken. Het is de omzetting van het gebod 'bid zonder ophouden' door om de 3 uur samen te komen voor lezingen en gebeden (=  8x per etmaal). 'De metten' (Matitunum = ochtend) is de naam voor het nachtgebed: Na het slotgebed 'completen' (ca. 20u) moet men ook de nacht nog doorbidden totdat de 'lauden' bij zonsopgang de nieuwe dag inluiden (ca. 5u). Dit lange gebed werd vaak ingekort ('korte metten maken') en de lezingen/gebeden werden verdeeld over drie 'nocturnen'. Lastig. In de nacht gewekt worden en opstaan om te bidden: 'Vader Jacob, Frère Jacques, slaapt gij nog, hoor de klokken luiden, Sonnez les Matines...: In het Frans moet broeder Jacques blijkbaar de klokken luiden om z'n broeders op te roepen tot gebed. De daggebeden worden genummerd: priem, terts, sext, noon. Voor de gekende muzikale vieringen rond de leçons de ténèbres werden in Frankrijk de nocturnen naar voren gehaald, dus niet 's nachts, maar in de late namiddag van de voorgaande dag. De donkere metten van Witte Donderdag werden dus gebeden tijdens de vespers van Woensdag etc... Zo staat het dan ook in de diverse titels in het Frans.

1. Trois Leçons pour le Mercredi Saint (Woensdagavond = nocturnes van Witte donderdag)

2. Trois Leçons pour le Jeudi Saint (Witte Donderdagvond = nocturnes van Goede Vrijdag)

3. Trois Leçons pour le Vendredi Saint (Goede Vrijdagavond = nocturnes van Stille Zaterdag)

De lezingen

	Lezing 1	Lezing 2	Lezing 3
Witte Donderdag	Klaagliederen 1:1-5	Klaagliederen 1:6-9	Klaagliederen 1:10-14
Goede Vrijdag	Klaagliederen 2:8-11	Klaagliederen 2:12-15	Klaagliederen 3:1-9
Stille Zaterdag	Klaagliederen 3:22-30	Klaagliederen 4:1-6	Klaagliederen 5:1-11

 

Opmerkingen:
1. Vier van de vijf klaagliederen zijn alfabetische gedichten, d.w.z. het eerste woord van elk vers begint met de opeenvolgende letters van het Hebreeuwse alfabet, d.w.z. alef-beth etc. (dus 22 verzen, want 22 letters). Hoofdstuk 3 doet dat maal 3 (66 verzen). Heel apart: hoofdstuk vijf doet dat niet, maar telt wel 22 verzen. Hieronymus heeft dat in zijn Latijnse vertaling niet bewaard, maar wel aangegeven, door de 'naam van elke hebreeuwse letter' te vermelden. Wonderlijk genoeg zijn deze 'reminders' een eigen leven gaan leiden bij het reciteren, en door de musici... op muziek gezet. Aangegrepen zelfs voor expressieve toonzettingen: 'klanktaal'. Hiernaast een afbeelding uit een handgeschreven bijbel uit ca. 700 met in rood de Hebreeuwse letters. (Codex Amiatinus)

2. Elke lezing wordt besloten met dezelfde zin (die niet bij het lied hoort, maar ontleend is aan het eind van Klaaglied nr. 5, en Vergelijkbare zinnen bij de profeten): Jerusalem, convertere ad dominum deum tuum.  

3. In het getijdengebed zijn er nog andere lezingen, gebeden en de nodige antifonen/responsoria. En In de Goede Week werd het laatste nachtofficie (slot van de nocturnen) afgesloten met Psalm 50/51 Miserere mei, Domine.

 

Leçons pour le Mercredi Saint
Première leçon
Incipit lamentatio Ieremiae prophetae		Hier begint het klaaglied van de profeet Jeremia
Aleph. Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo! Facta est quasi vidua domina gentium; princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo.		א‎ Ach, hoe eenzaam zit ze neer de eens zo volkrijke stad; Als weduwe blijft ze achter, die heerste over de volken. De vorstin der gewesten moet slavendienst verrichten.
Beth. Plorans ploravit in nocte, et lacrimae ejus in maxillis ejus: non est qui consoletur eam ex omnibus caris ejus; omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam, et facti sunt ei inimici.		ב De hele nacht weent ze en snikt ze, stromen de tranen over haar wangen. Van al haar minnaars is er geen die haar komt troosten; Al haar vrienden laten haar vallen. Ze zijn haar vijanden geworden.
Ghimel. Migravit Juda propter afflictionem, et multitudinem servitutis; habitavit inter gentes, nec invenit requiem: omnes persecutores ejus apprehenderunt eam inter angustias.		ג‎ Ontvolkt is Juda door ellende en harde slavernij; Onder de heidenen moet ze wonen, en vindt geen rust. Al haar vervolgers achterhaalden haar, en dreven haar in het nauw.
Daleth. Viae Sion lugent, eo quod non sint qui veniant ad solemnitatem: omnes portae ejus destructae, sacerdotes ejus gementes; virgines ejus squalidae, et ipsa oppressa amaritudine.		ד‎ De wegen van Sion treuren, want er zijn geen feestgangers meer; Al haar poorten liggen in puin, Haar priesters zuchten, de maagden zijn onteerd. Terneergedrukt is ze, vol bitterheid.
He. Facti sunt hostes ejus in capite; inimici ejus locupletati sunt: quia Dominus locutus est super eam propter multitudinem iniquitatum ejus. Parvuli ejus ducti sunt in captivitatem ante faciem tribulantis.		ה‎ Haar verdrukkers zegepralen, haar haters juichen, want de Heer heeft haar in jammer gestort om haar talloze zonden; Haar kleine kinderen zijn in ballingschap weggevoerd, voor de ogen van hun onderdrukker.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.
Deuxième leçon
Vau. Et egressus est a filia Sion omnis decor ejus; facti sunt principes ejus velut arietes non invenientes pascua, et abierunt absque fortitudine ante faciem subsequentis.		ו‎ Volkomen van haar schoonheid beroofd is de dochter van Sion. Haar vorsten zijn als rammen die geen weideplaats vinden, ze gaan ten onder krachteloos voor wie hen opjaagt.
Zain. Recordata est Jerusalem dierum afflictionis suae, et praevaricationis, omnium desiderabilium suorum, quae habuerat a diebus antiquis, cum caderet populus ejus in manu hostili, et non esset auxiliator: viderunt eam hostes, et deriserunt sabbata ejus.		ז‎ Jerusalem herinnert zich de tijd van haar ellende en nood: al de begeerlijkheden die zij bezat in de dagen van weleer toen het volk in de handen viel van de vijand, en niemand haar te hulp kwam; De vijanden zagen haar, en spotten met haar sabbatten.
Heth. Peccatum peccavit Jerusalem, propterea instabilis facta est; omnes qui glorificabant eam spreverunt illam, quia viderunt ignominiam ejus: ipsa autem gemens conversa est retrorsum.		ח‎ Gezondigd heeft Jerusalem, zwaar gezondigd; Daarom is ze gaan wankelen ; Die haar vroeger vereerden, verachten haar nu. Ze hebben haar schande gezien; Ze zucht, keert zich om en wendt haar gelaat af.
Teth. Sordes ejus in pedibus ejus, nec recordata est finis sui; deposita est vehementer, non habens consolatorem. Vide, Domine, afflictionem meam, quoniam erectus est inimicus.		ט‎ Van top tot teen is ze besmeurd: nooit had ze zo’n einde voorzien. Peilloos diep zinkt zij weg; Niemand is er, die haar komt troosten. Ach Heer, zie mij aan in mijn nood, de vijand triomfeert!
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.
Troisième leçon
Jod. Manum suam misit hostis ad omnia desiderabilia ejus, quia vidit gentes ingressas sanctuarium suum, de quibus praeceperas ne intrarent in ecclesiam tuam.		י‎ De vijand heeft zijn hand gelegd op alles wat haar dierbaar was; ze heeft moeten aanschouwen, dat de heidenen haar heiligdom binnentrokken, al hadt Gij hun de toegang tot uw gemeente ontzegd.
Caph. Omnis populus ejus gemens, et quaerens panem; dederunt pretiosa quaeque pro cibo ad refocillandam animam. Vide, Domine, et considera quoniam facta sum vilis!		כ‎ Al het volk loopt zuchtend te zoeken naar brood; ze geven hun schatten voor spijs om hun ziel te doen herleven. Ach Heer, zie toch en merk op hoe diep vernederd ik ben!
Lamed. O vos omnes qui transitis per viam, attendite, et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus! Quoniam vindemiavit me, ut locutus est Dominus, in die irae furoris sui.		ל‎ O, Gij allen die mij voorbijgaat op de weg, kijk goed en zie, of er een smart is gelijk aan mijn smart. Want Hij heeft mij als de wijngaard gesnoeid, gelijk de Heer gesproken heeft, op de dag van zijn brandende toorn.
Mem. De excelso misit ignem in ossibus meis, et erudivit me: expandit rete pedibus meis, convertit me retrorsum; posuit me desolatam, tota die moerore confectam.		מ‎ Uit de hoge heeft Hij een vuur geslingerd in het diepst van mijn gebeente; Hij heeft een net voor mijn voeten gespannen, mij achterover gestort; mij tot vertwijfeling gebracht, de ganse dag ziek gemaakt.
Nun. Vigilavit jugum iniquitatum mearum; in manu ejus convolutae sunt, et impositae collo meo. Infirmata est virtus mea: dedit me Dominus in manu de qua non potero surgere.		נ‎ Zwaar drukt het juk van mijn zonden. Hij heeft het met eigen hand mij heeft opgelegd; Het drukt op mijn nek. Mijn kracht is gebroken. De Heer heeft mij overgeleverd in de hand waaruit ik niet zal kunnen opstaan.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.

 

 

Leçons pour le Jeudi Saint
Première leçon
Heth. Cogitavit Dominus dissipare murum filiæ Sion; tetendit funiculum suum, et non avertit manum suam a perditione: luxitque antemurale, et murus pariter dissipatus est.		ח‎ De Heer besloot de muur van de dochter Sion van Sion te vernielen; Hij spande zijn meetsnoer en wendde zijne hand niet af van de verdelging; en de voormuur treurde, en de muur werd gelijkelijk vernield.
Teth. Defixæ sunt in terra portæ ejus, perdidit et contrivit vectes ejus; regem ejus et principes ejus in gentibus: non est lex, et prophetæ ejus non invenerunt visionem a Domino.		ט‎ Gezonken in de aarde zijn haar poorten, hij verdierf en verbrak haar grendels; haar koning en haar vorsten zijn onder de heidenen; er is geen wet, en haar profeten krijgen geen visioen meer van den Heer.
Jod. Sederunt in terra, conticuerunt senes filiæ Sion; consperserunt cinere capita sua, accincti sunt ciliciis: abjecerunt in terram capita sua virgines Jerusalem.		י‎ Ter aarde zijn sprakeloos neergezeten de oudsten der dochter Sion, zij hebben hun hoofden met asse bestrooid en boeteklederen aangegord; de jonkvrouwen van Jerusalem laten het hoofd ter aarde hangen.
Caph. Defecerunt præ lacrimis oculi mei, conturbata sunt viscera mea; effusum est in terra jecur meum super contritione filiæ populi mei, cum deficeret parvulus et lactens in plateis oppidi		כ‎ Verduisterd zijn mijn ogen door tranen, mijn ingewanden zijn dooreengeschud; mijn lever is ter aarde uitgestort om de ondergang van de dochter van mijn volk, omdat kind en zuigeling bezweek in de straten van de stad.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.
Seconde leçon
Lamed. Matribus suis dixerunt: Ubi est triticum et vinum? Cum deficerent quasi vulnerati in plateis civitatis, cum exhalarent animas suas in sinu matrum suarum.		ל‎ Tot hun moeders zeiden ze: Waar is tarwe en wijn? Terwijl zij als gewonden bezweken in de straten van de stad, terwijl zij hun geest uitademden aan de boezem van hun moeders.
Mem. Cui comparabo te, vel cui assimilabo te, filia Jerusalem? Cui exæquabo te, et consolabor te, virgo, filia Sion? Magna est enim velut mare contritio tua: quis medebitur tui?		מ‎ Waarmee zal ik u vergelijken of waaraan u gelijk achten, dochter Jerusalem? Waarmee zal ik u gelijkstellen om u te troosten, jonkvrouw, dochter van Sion? Groot toch als de zee is uw verbrijzeling ! Wie zal u genezen?
Nun. Prophetæ tui viderunt tibi falsa et stulta; nec aperiebant iniquitatem tuam, ut te ad pœnitentiam provocarent; viderunt autem tibi assumptiones falsas, et ejectiones.		נ‎ Uw profeten zagen voor u onware en dwaze zaken; en zij legden uw ongerechtigheid niet bloot om u tot boete op te wekken; zij voorzagen voor u valse verzinsels - en uitdrijvingen.
Samech. Plauserunt super te manibus omnes transeuntes per viam; sibilaverunt et moverunt caput suum super filiam Jerusalem: Haeccine est urbs, dicentes, perfecti decoris, gaudium universae terrae?		ס‎ Zij klappen in de handen over u, allen, die voorbijgaan langs de weg; zij sissen en schudden hun hoofd over de dochter Jerusalem. Is dit nu, zeggen zij, de stad van volmaakte schoonheid, de lust van geheel de aarde ?
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.
Troisième leçon
Aleph. Ego vir videns paupertatem meam in virga indignationis ejus. Aleph. Me minavit, et adduxit in tenebras, et non in lucem. Aleph. Tantum in me vertit et convertit manum suam tota die.		א‎ Ik ben de mens die zijn eigen ellende aanschouwt, doordat gij mij slaat in uw verbolgenheid. א‎ Hij heeft mij gedreven en opgejaagd, de duisternis in, en niet naar in het licht. א‎ Telkens keerde hij zijn hand tegen mij, en hief ze elke dag weer op.
Beth. Vetustam fecit pellem meam et carnem meam; contrivit ossa mea. Beth. Aedificavit in gyro meo, et circumdedit me felle et labore. Beth. In tenebrosis collocavit me, quasi mortuos sempiternos.		ב Hij heeft mijn huid doen verouderen, mijn vlees verkwijnen, mijn beenderen gebroken. ב Hij heeft rond mij gebouwd, en mij omsingeld met bitterheid en zorg. ב Hij heeft mij in de duisternis doen zitten, als de doden van lang vervlogen tijden.
Ghimel. Circumaedificavit adversum me, ut non egrediar; aggravavit compedem meum. Ghimel. Sed et cum clamavero, et rogavero, exclusit orationem meam. Ghimel. Conclusit vias meas lapidibus quadris; semitas meas subvertit.		ג‎ Hij bouwde een ringmuur tegen jij, zodat ik niet kon ontsnappen, mijn ketenen heeft hij verzwaard. ג‎ Hoe ik ook schreeuwde en riep, hij bleef doof voor mijn gebed. ג‎ Hij versperde mijn wegen met gehouwen steen, hij ploegde mijn paden om.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.

Leçons pour le Vendredi Saint
Première leçon
Heth. Misericordiæ Domini, quia non sumus consumpti; quia non defecerunt miserationes ejus. Heth. Novi diluculo, multa est fides tua. Heth. Pars mea Dominus, dixit anima mea; propterea exspectabo eum.		ח‎ De barmhartigheden van de Heer zijn het, dat wij niet zijn vernietigd; want zijn ontferming houdt niet op. ח‎ Nieuw zijn zij elke morgenstond, groot is uw trouw. ח‎‎ Mijn deel is de Heer, zegt mijn ziel; daarom zal ik hopen op Hem.
Teth. Bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum, animæ quærenti illum. Teth. Bonum est præstolari cum silentio salutare Dei. Teth. Bonum est viro cum portaverit jugum ab adolescentia sua.		ט‎ Goed is de Heer voor wie op Hem hopen, voor de ziel die Hem zoekt. ט‎ Goed is het, het heil van God met gelatenheid te verbeiden. ט‎ Goed is het voor de man, het juk te dragen van zijne jeugd af.
Jod. Sedebit solitarius, et tacebit, quia levavit super se. Jod. Ponet in pulvere os suum, si forte sit spes. Jod. Dabit percutienti se maxillam: saturabitur opprobriis.		י‎ Hij zit eenzaam neder en zwijgt, omdat hij het op zich heeft genomen, י‎ Hij legt zijn gelaat in het stof, of er wellicht hope zij, י‎ Hij biedt zijne wang aan dengene, die hem slaat; hij wordt van smaad verzadigd.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.
Seconde leçon
Aleph. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus! Dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum!		א‎ Hoe is het goud verdonkerd, verdoofd de edelste glans? Hoe liggen de stenen van het heiligdom verstrooid op de hoeken van alle straten!
Beth. Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo: quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli!		ב Sion's zonen, beroemd en gedost in het fijnste goud, hoe zijn zij geacht als aarden vaten, werk van de handen van de pottenbakker!
Ghimel. Sed et lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos: filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.		ג‎ Zelfs monsterdieren ontbloten de borst, zogen haar welpen; de dochter van mijn volk is hardvochtig als een struisvogel in de woestijn.
Daleth. Adhaesit lingua lactentis ad palatum ejus in siti; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.		ד‎ De tong van de zuigeling kleefde aan zijn gehemelte van dorst; de kleine kinderen vroegen om brood, en er was niemand, die het voor hun brak.
He. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis; qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.		ה‎ Die lekkernijen aten, komen om op de straten; die werden gedragen op karmozijn, omhelzen den drek.
Vau. Et major effecta est iniquitas filiae populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quae subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.		ו‎ En groter was de ongerechtigheid van de dochter van mijn volk dan de zonde van Sodom, dat verwoest werd in een ogenblik, zonder dat mensenhanden het aangrepen.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.
Troisième leçon
Incipit Oratio Jeremiae Prophetae		Hier begint het gebed van de profeet Jeremia
Recordare Domine quid acciderit nobis intuere et respice obprobrium nostrum		Gedenk, Heer, wat over ons is gekomen; zie en aanschouw onze smaad!
Hereditas nostra versa est ad alienos domus nostrae ad extraneos		Ons erfdeel is aan anderen vervallen, onze huizen aan vreemdelingen,
Pupilli facti sumus absque patre matres nostrae quasi viduae		Wezen zijn wij geworden, vaderloos, en onze moeders zijn als weduwen.
Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus ligna nostra pretio conparavimus		Ons eigen water drinken we voor geld, en voor ons hout moeten we betalen.
Cervicibus minabamur lassis non dabatur requies		Met het juk om onze hals werden wij voorgesleurd, uitgeput, maar men gunde ons geen rust.
Aegypto dedimus manum et Assyriis ut saturaremur pane		Naar Egypte hebben de hand uitgestoken, naar de Assyriërs om met brood verzadigd te worden.
Patres nostri peccaverunt et non sunt et nos iniquitates eorum portavimus		Onze vaderen hebben gezondigd, en zij zijn niet meer;  wij dragen hun schuld.
Servi dominati sunt nostri non fuit qui redimeret de manu eorum		Slaven heersen over ons; er is niemand, die ons uit hun hand verlost.
In animabus nostris adferebamus panem nobis a facie gladii in deserto		Met gevaar voor ons leven haalden wij ons brood,  vanwege het dreigende zwaard der woestijn.
Pellis nostra quasi clibanus exusta est a facie tempestatum famis		Onze huid is verschroeid als door een ovensteen, vanwege hongervlagen.
Mulieres in Sion humiliaverunt virgines in civitatibus Iuda		In Sion werden de vrouwen onteerd, en de meisjes in de steden van Juda.
Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.		Jeruzalem, bekeer u tot de Heer, uw God.

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, O 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, O Lord, for I am in distress, my bowels are troubled: my heart is turned within me, for I am full of bitterness: abroad the sword destroyeth and at home there is death alike.

1:21. Sin. They have heard that I sigh, and there is none to comfort me: all my enemies have heard of my evil, they have rejoiced that thou hast done it: thou hast brought a day of consolation, and they shall be like unto me.

1:22. Thau. Let all their evil be present before thee: and make vintage of them, as thou hast made vintage of me for all my iniquities: for my sighs are many, and my heart is sorrowful.

2:1. Aleph. How hath the Lord covered with obscurity the daughter of Sion in his wrath! how hath he cast down from heaven to the earth the glorious one of Israel, and hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.

2:2. Beth. The Lord hath cast down headlong, and hath not spared, all that was beautiful in Jacob: he hath destroyed in his wrath the strong holds of the virgin of Juda, and brought them down to the ground: he hath made the kingdom unclean, and the princes thereof.

2:3. Ghimel. He hath broken in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy: and he hath kindled in Jacob as it were a flaming fire devouring round about.

2:4. Daleth. He hath bent his bow as an enemy, he hath fixed his right hand as an adversary: and he hath killed all that was fair to behold in the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion, he hath poured out his indignation like fire.

2:5. He. The Lord is become as an enemy: he hath cast down Israel headlong, he hath overthrown all the walls thereof: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath multiplied in the daughter of Juda the afflicted, both men and women.

2:6. Vau. And he hath destroyed his tent as a garden, he hath thrown down his tabernacle: the Lord hath caused feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Sion: and hath delivered up king and priest to reproach, and to the indignation of his wrath.

2:7. Zain. The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath cursed his sanctuary: he hath delivered the walls of the towers thereof into the hand of the enemy: they have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as in the day of a solemn feast.

2:8. Heth. The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Sion: he hath stretched out his line, and hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: and the bulwark hath mourned, and the wall hath been destroyed together.

2:9. Teth. Her gates are sunk into the ground: he hath destroyed, and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more, and her prophets have found no vision from the Lord.

2:10. Jod. The ancients of the daughter of Sion sit upon the ground, they have held their peace: they have sprinkled their heads with dust, they are girded with haircloth, the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.

2:11. Caph. My eyes have failed with weeping, my bowels are troubled: my liver is poured out upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people, when the children, and the sucklings, fainted away in the streets of the city.

2:12. Lamed. They said to their mothers: Where is corn and wine? when they fainted away as the wounded in the streets of the city: when they breathed out their souls in the bosoms of their mothers.

2:13. Mem. To what shall I compare thee? or to what shall I liken thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? to what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for great as the sea is thy destruction: who shall heal thee?

2:14. Nun. Thy prophets have seen false and foolish things for thee: and they have not laid open thy iniquity, to excite thee to penance: but they have seen for thee false revelations and banishments.

2:15. Samech. All they that passed by the way have clapped their hands at thee: they have hissed, and wagged their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying: Is this the city of perfect beauty, the joy of all the earth?

2:16. Phe. All thy enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they have hissed, and gnashed with the teeth, and have said: We will swallow her up: lo, this is the day which we looked for: we have found it, we have seen it.

2:17. Ain. The Lord hath done that which he purposed, he hath fulfilled his word, which he commanded in the days of old: he hath destroyed, and hath not spared, and he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee, and hath set up the horn of thy adversaries.

2:18. Sade. Their heart cried to the Lord upon the walls of the daughter of Sion: Let tears run down like a torrent day and night: give thyself no rest, and let not the apple of thy eye cease.

2:19. Coph. Arise, give praise in the night, in the beginning of the watches: pour out thy heart like water, before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands to him for the life of thy little children, that have fainted for hunger at the top of all the streets.

2:20. Res. Behold, O Lord, and consider whom thou hast thus dealt with: shall women then eat their own fruit, their children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

2:21. Sin. The child and the old man lie without on the ground: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: thou hast slain them in the day of thy wrath: thou hast killed, and shewn them no pity.

2:22. Thau. Thou hast called as to a festival, those that should terrify me round about, and there was none in the day of the wrath of the Lord that escaped and was left: those that I brought up, and nourished, my enemy hath consumed them.

3:1. Aleph. I am the man that see my poverty by the rod of his indignation.

3:2. Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into light.

3:3. Aleph. Only against me he hath turned, and turned again his hand all the day.

3:4. Beth. My skin and my flesh he hath made old, he hath broken my bones.

3:5. Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with gall, and labour.

3:6. Beth. He hath set me in dark places as those that are dead for ever.

3:7. Ghimel. He hath built against me round about, that I may not get out: he hath made my fetters heavy.

3:8. Ghimel. Yea, and when I cry, and entreat, he hath shut out my prayer.

3:9. Ghimel. He hath shut up my ways with square stones, he hath turned my paths upside down.

3:10. Daleth. He is become to me as a bear lying in wait: as a lion in secret places.

3:11. Daleth. He hath turned aside my paths, and hath broken me in pieces, he hath made me desolate.

3:12. Daleth. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for his arrows.

3:13. He. He hath shot into my reins the daughters of his quiver.

3:14. He. I am made a derision to all my people, their song all the day long.

3:15. He. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with wormwood.

3:16. Vau. And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with ashes.

3:17. Vau. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I have forgotten good things.

3:18. Vau. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord.

3:19. Zain. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood and the gall.

3:20. Zain. I will be mindful and remember, and my soul shall languish within me.

3:21. Zain. These things I shall think over in my heart, therefore will I hope.

3:22. Heth. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because his commiserations have not failed.

3:23. Heth. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.

3:24. Heth. The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait for him.

3:25. Teth. The Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that seeketh him.

3:26. Teth. It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God.

3:27. Teth. It is good for a man, when he hath borne the yoke from his youth.

3:28. Jod. He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace: because he hath taken it up upon himself.

3:29. Jod. He shall put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

3:30. Jod. He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall be filled with reproaches.

3:31. Caph. For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

3:32. Caph. For if he hath cast off, he will also have mercy, according to the multitude of his mercies.

3:33. Caph. For he hath not willingly afflicted, nor cast off the children of men.

3:34. Lamed. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the land,

3:35. Lamed. To turn aside the judgment of a man before the face of the most High,

3:36. Lamed. To destroy a man wrongfully in his judgment, the Lord hath not approved.

3:37. Mem. Who is he that hath commanded a thing to be done, when the Lord commandeth it not?

3:38. Mem. Shall not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the Highest?

3:39. Mem. Why hath a living man murmured, man suffering for his sins?

3:40. Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord.

3:41. Nun. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the heavens.

3:42. Nun. We have done wickedly, and provoked thee to wrath: therefore thou art inexorable.

3:43. Samech. Thou hast covered in thy wrath, and hast struck us: thou hast killed and hast not spared.

3:44. Samech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may not pass through.

3:45. Samech. Thou hast made me as an outcast, and refuse in the midst of the people.

3:46. Phe. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

3:47. Phe. Prophecy is become to us a fear, and a snare, and destruction.

3:48. Phe. My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

3:49. Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there was no rest:

3:50. Ain. Till the Lord regarded and looked down from the heavens.

3:51. Ain. My eye hath wasted my soul because of all the daughters of my city.

3:52. Sade. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, without cause.

3:53. Sade. My life is fallen into the pit, and they have laid a stone over me.

3:54. Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off.

3:55. Coph. I have called upon thy name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.

3:56. Coph. Thou hast heard my voice: turn not away thy ear from my sighs, and cries.

3:57. Coph. Thou drewest near in the day, when I called upon thee, thou saidst: Fear not.

3:58. Res. Thou hast judged, O Lord, the cause of my soul, thou the Redeemer of my life.

3:59. Res. Thou hast seen, O Lord, their iniquity against me: judge thou my judgment.

3:60. Res. Thou hast seen all their fury, and all their thoughts against me.

3:61. Sin. Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, all their imaginations against me.

3:62. Sin. The lips of them that rise up against me: and their devices against me all the day.

3:63. Sin. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their song.

3:64. Thau. Thou shalt render them a recompense, O Lord, according to the works of their hands.

3:65. Thau. Thou shalt give them a buckler of heart, thy labour.

3:66. Thau. Thou shalt persecute them in anger, and shalt destroy them from under the heavens, O Lord.

4:1. 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?

4:2. 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?

4:3. 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.

4:4. 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.

4:5. He. They that were fed delicately have died in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet have embraced the dung.

4:6. 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.

4:7. Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.

4:8. 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.

4:9. 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.

4:10. 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.

4:11. 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.

4:12. 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.

4:13. 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.

4:14. 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.

4:15. 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.

4:16. 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.

4:17. 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.

4:18. Sade. Our steps have slipped in the way of our streets, our end draweth near: our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.

4:19. 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.

4:20. Res. The breath of our mouth, Messiah Lord, is taken in our sins: to whom we said: Under thy shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.

4:21. 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.

4:22. Thau. Thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Sion, he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he hath visited thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins.

5:1. Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our reproach.

5:2. Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers.

5:3. We are become orphans without a father: our mothers are as widows.

5:4. We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood.

5:5. We were dragged by the necks, we were weary and no rest was given us.

5:6. We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we might be satisfied with bread.

5:7. Our fathers have sinned, and are not: and we have borne their iniquities.

5:8. Servants have ruled over us: there was none to redeem us out of their hand.

5:9. We fetched our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the desert.

5:10. Our skin was burnt as an oven, by reason of the violence of the famine.

5:11. They oppressed the women in Sion, and the virgins in the cities of Juda.

5:12. The princes were hanged up by their hand: they did not respect the persons of the ancients.

5:13. They abused the young men indecently: and the children fell under the wood.

5:14. The ancients have ceased from the gates: the young men from the choir of the singers.

5:15. The joy of our heart is ceased, our dancing is turned into mourning.

5:16. The crown is fallen from our head: woe to us, because we have sinned.

5:17. Therefore is our heart sorrowful, therefore are our eyes become dim.

5:18. For mount Sion, because it is destroyed, foxes have walked upon it.

5:19. But thou, O Lord, shalt remain for ever, thy throne from generation to generation.

5:20. Why wilt thou forget us for ever? why wilt thou forsake us for a long time?

5:21. Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our days, as from the beginning.

5:22. But thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art exceedingly angry with us.