Scriptures

Lamentations chapter 1

¶ Aleph. Alas, how sitteth the city so desolate, that some time was full of people? How is she become like a widow, which was the lady of all nations? How is she brought under tribute, that ruled all lands. Beth. She weepeth sore in the night, so that the tears run down her cheeks: for among all her lovers, there is none that giveth her any comfort: yea her next friends abhor her, and are become her enemies. Gimel. Iudah is taken prisoner, because she was defiled: and for serving so many strange gods, she dwelleth now among the heathen. She findeth no rest: all they that persecuted her, took her, and so she dwelleth among her enemies. Daleth. The streets of Sion mourn, because no man cometh to the solempne feasts. All her gates are desolate, her priests make lamentation, her maidens are careful, and she herself is in great heaviness. He. Her enemies are fallen upon her head, and have put her to shame: because the LORD hath chastened her for her great wickedness: her children are lead away captive before their enemy. Vau. All the beauty of the daughter of Sion is away, her princes are become like wethers that find no pasture. They are driven away before their enemy, so that they have no more power. Zain. Now doth Ierusalem remember the time of her misery and disobedience, yea the joy and pleasure that she hath had in times past: seeing her people is brought down thorow the power of their enemy, and there is no man for to help her: her enemies stond looking at her and laughing her Sabbath days to scorn. CHeth. Ierusalem sinned ever more and more, therefore is she come in decay. All they that had her in honour, despise her: for they have seen her filthiness. Yea she sigheth, and is a shamed of herself. Teth. Her skirts are defiled, she remembred not what would follow: therefore is her fall so great, and there is no man to comfort her. O LORD, consider my trouble, for my enemy hath the upper hand. Iod. The enemy hath put his hand to all the precious things that she had, yea even before her eyes came the Heathen in and out of the Sanctuary: whom thou (nevertheless) hast forbidden to come within thy congregation. Caph. All her people seek their bread with heaviness, and look what precious things every man hath, that giveth he for meat, to save his life. Consider, O LORD, and see, how vile I am become.
¶ Lamed. O ye all that go fore by, behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto mine; wherewith the LORD hath troubled me, in the day of his fearful wrath. Mem. From above hath he sent down a fire into my bones and chastened me: he hath laid a net for my feet, and thrown me wide open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must ever be mourning. Nun. The yoke of my transgression is come at the last, with his hand hath he taken it up, and put it about my neck. My strength is gone: the Lord hath delivered me into those hands, whereout I can not quite my self. Samech. The Lord hath destroyed all the mighty men, that were in me. He hath proclamed a feast, to slaughter all my best men. The Lord hath troden down the daughter of Iuda, like as it were in a wine press. Ain. Therefore do I weep, and mine eyes gush out of water: for the comforter that should quicken me, is far from me. My children are driven away, for why? the enemy hath gotten the over hand. Phe. Sion casteth out her hands, and there is no man to comfort her. The LORD hath laid the enemies round about Iacob, and Ierusalem is as it were a menstruous woman, in the middest of them. Zade. The LORD is righteous, for I provoked his countenance unto anger. O take heed all ye people, and consider my heaviness: My maidens and my young men are lead away in to captivity. Koph. I called for my lovers (but they beguiled me) for my Priests and counselors, but they perished: even while they sought for meat, to save their lives. Res. Consider (O LORD) how I am troubled, my womb is disquieted, my heart turneth about in me, and I am full of heaviness. The sword hurteth me without, and within I am like unto death. Sin. They hear my mourning, but there is none that will comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble, and are glad thereof, because thou hast done it. But thou shalt bring forth the time, when they also shall be like unto me. Thau. From thee shall come all their adversity: thou shalt pluck them away, even as thou hast plucked me, because of all my wickedness. For my sorrow is very great, and my heart is heavy.

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