Lam 1
1
Words bracketed not in Heb. And it came to pass, after Israel was taken captive, and Jerusalem made desolate,
that Jeremias sat weeping, and lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and
said ALEPH. How does the city that was filled with people sit solitary! she is become
as a widow: she that was magnified among the nations, and princess among the provinces,
has become tributary.
2
BETH. She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; and there is none
of all her lovers to comfort her: all that were her friends have dealt deceitfully
with her, they are become her enemies.
3
GIMEL. Judea is gone into captivity by reason of her affliction, and by reason of
the abundance of her servitude: she dwells among the nations, she has not found rest:
all her pursuers have overtaken her between her oppressors.
4
DALETH. The ways of Sion mourn, See use of para, 1 Co 12:15, 16 because there are none that come to the feast: all her gates
are ruined: her priests
groan, her virgins are led captive, and she is in bitterness in herself.
5
HE. Her oppressors are become the head, and her enemies have prospered; for the Lord
has afflicted her because of the multitude of her Gr. ungodlinesses sins: her young children are gone into captivity before
the face of the oppressor.
6
VAU. And all her beauty has been taken away from the daughter of Sion: her princes
were as rams finding no pasture, and are gone away in weakness before the face of
the pursuer.
7
ZAIN. Jerusalem remembered the days of her affliction, and her Gr. plural rejection; she thought on all her desirable things
which were from the days of old,
when her people fell into the hands of the oppressor, and there was none to help her:
when her enemies saw it they laughed at Heb. q. d. her sabbatism; A. V. her sabbaths; Alex. her captivity her habitation.
8
HETH. Jerusalem has sinned a great sin; therefore has she come into tribulation, all
that used to honour her have afflicted her, for they have seen her shame: yea, she
herself groaned, and turned backward.
9
TETH. Her uncleanness is before her feet; she remembered not her last end; she has
lowered her Gr. plural boasting tone, there is none to comfort her. Behold, O Lord, my affliction: for the
enemy has magnified himself.
10
JOD. The oppressor has stretched out his hand on all her desirable things: for she
has seen the Gentiles entering into her sanctuary, concerning whom you did command
that they should not enter into your congregation.
11
CHAPH. All her people groan, seeking bread: they have given their desirable things
for meat, to restore their soul: behold, Lord, and look; for she is become dishonoured.
12
LAMED. All you that pass by the way, turn, and see if there is sorrow like to my sorrow,
which has happened to me. The Lord who spoke by me has afflicted me in the day of
his fierce anger.
13
MEM. He has sent fire from his lofty habitation, he has brought it into my bones:
he has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back: he has made me desolate and
mourning all the day.
14
NUN. He has watched over my sins, they are twined about my hands, they have come up
on my neck: my strength has failed; for the Lord has laid pains on my hands, I shall
not be able to stand.
15
SAMECH. The Lord has cut off all my strong men from the midst of me: he has summoned
against me a time for crushing my choice men: the Lord has trodden a wine-press for
the virgin daughter of Juda: for these things I weep.
16
AIN. Mine eye has poured out water, because he who should comfort me, that should
restore my soul, has been removed far from me: my sons have been destroyed, because
the enemy has prevailed.
17
PHE. Sion has spread out her hand, and there is none to comfort her: the Lord has
commanded concerning Jacob, his oppressors are round about him: Jerusalem has become
among them as a removed woman.
18
TSADE. The Lord is righteous; for I have provoked his mouth: hear, I pray you, Or, peoples all people, and behold my grief:
my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
19
KOPH. I called my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and my elders failed in
the city; for they sought meat that they might restore their souls, and found it not.
20
RHECHS. Behold, O Lord; for I am afflicted: my belly is troubled, and my heart is
turned within me; for I Or, have provoked and been provoked have been grievously rebellious: abroad the sword has bereaved
me, even as death
at home.
21
CHSEN. Hear, I pray you, for I groan: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies
have heard of mine afflictions, and rejoice because you have done it: you have brought
on the day, you have called the time: they are become like to me.
22
THAU. Let all their wickedness come before your face; and strip them, as they have
made a gleaning for all my sins: for my groans are many, and my heart is grieved.