Lamentations 3
1 I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's anger.
[Aleph Ego vir videns paupertatem meam in virga indignationis ejus.
2 He has driven me away, forcing me to walk in darkness instead of the light.
Aleph Me minavit, et adduxit in tenebras, et non in lucem.
3 In fact he hits me again and again all day long.
Aleph Tantum in me vertit et convertit manum suam tota die.
4 He has worn me out; he has broken me in pieces.
Beth Vetustam fecit pellem meam et carnem meam; contrivit ossa mea.
5 He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.
Beth Ædificavit in gyro meo, et circumdedit me felle et labore.
6 He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.
Beth In tenebrosis collocavit me, quasi mortuos sempiternos.
7 He has built a wall around me so I can't escape; he has bound me with heavy chains.
Ghimel Circumædificavit adversum me, ut non egrediar; aggravavit compedem meum.
8 Even when I keep on crying out for help, he refuses to listen to my prayer.
Ghimel Sed et cum clamavero, et rogavero, exclusit orationem meam.
9 He has put stone blocks in my way and sends me down crooked paths.
Ghimel Conclusit vias meas lapidibus quadris; semitas meas subvertit.
10 He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,
Daleth Ursus insidians factus est mihi, leo in absconditis.
11 He dragged me from my path and ripped me to pieces, leaving me helpless.
Daleth Semitas meas subvertit, et confregit me; posuit me desolatam.
12 He loaded his bow with an arrow and used me as his target,
Daleth Tetendit arcum suum, et posuit me quasi signum ad sagittam.
13 He shot me in my kidneys with his arrows.
He Misit in renibus meis filias pharetræ suæ.
14 Now everyone laughs at me, singing songs that mock me all day long.
He Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo, canticum eorum tota die.
15 He has filled me with bitterness; he has filled me up with bitter wormwood.
He Replevit me amaritudinibus; inebriavit me absinthio.
16 He has broken my teeth with grit; he has trampled me in the dust.
Vau Et fregit ad numerum dentes meos; cibavit me cinere.
17 Peace has been torn away from me; I've forgotten all that's good in life.
Vau Et repulsa est a pace anima mea; oblitus sum bonorum.
18 That's why I say, “My expectation of a long life is gone, along with all that I hoped for from Lord.
Vau Et dixi: Periit finis meus, et spes mea a Domino.
19 Don't forget everything I've suffered in my wandering, as bitters as wormwood and poison.
Zain Recordare paupertatis, et transgressionis meæ, absinthii et fellis.
20 I certainly haven't forgotten. I remember it all too well, so I sink into depression.
Zain Memoria memor ero, et tabescet in me anima mea.
21 But I still hope when I think about this:
Zain Hæc recolens in corde meo, ideo sperabo.
22 It's because of the Lord's trustworthy love that our lives are not finished, for through his merciful actions he never lets us down.
Heth Misericordiæ Domini, quia non sumus consumpti; quia non defecerunt miserationes ejus.
23 He renews them every morning. How wonderfully trustworthy you are, Lord!
Heth Novi diluculo, multa est fides tua.
24 The Lord is all I need,” I tell myself, “so I will put my hope in him.”
Heth Pars mea Dominus, dixit anima mea; propterea exspectabo eum.
25 The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to anyone who seeks to follow him.
Teth Bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum, animæ quærenti illum.
26 It is good to wait quietly for the Lord's salvation.
Teth Bonum est præstolari cum silentio salutare Dei.
27 It is good for people to learn to patiently bear discipline while they're still young.
Teth Bonum est viro cum portaverit jugum ab adolescentia sua.
28 They should sit by themselves in silence, because it's God who has disciplined them.
Jod Sedebit solitarius, et tacebit, quia levavit super se.
29 They should bow low with their faces to the ground, for there may still be hope.
Jod Ponet in pulvere os suum, si forte sit spes.
30 They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.
Jod Dabit percutienti se maxillam: saturabitur opprobriis.
31 For the Lord won't abandon us forever.
Caph Quia non repellet in sempiternum Dominus.
32 Even though he may bring sadness, he shows us mercy because his trustworthy love is so great.
Caph Quia si abjecit, et miserebitur, secundum multitudinem misericordiarum suarum.
33 For he doesn't willingly hurt people, or cause them grief.
Caph Non enim humiliavit ex corde suo et abjecit filios hominum.
34 Whether it's mistreating all the prisoners of the land,
Lamed Ut conteret sub pedibus suis omnes vinctos terræ.
35 Or denying someone their rights as the Most High watches,
Lamed Ut declinaret judicium viri in conspectu vultus Altissimi.
36 Or cheating someone in their legal case—these things the Lord doesn't approve of.
Lamed Ut perverteret hominem in judicio suo; Dominus ignoravit.
37 Who spoke and it came into existence? Wasn't it the Lord who commanded it?
Mem Quis est iste qui dixit ut fieret, Domino non jubente?
38 When the Most High speaks it can be a disaster or a blessing.
Mem Ex ore Altissimi non egredientur nec mala nec bona?
39 Why should any human being complain about the results of their sins?
Mem Quid murmuravit homo vivens, vir pro peccatis suis?
40 We should look at ourselves, examine what we're doing, and return to the Lord.
Nun Scrutemur vias nostras, et quæramus, et revertamur ad Dominum.
41 Let's not just hold up our hands to God in heaven, but our minds as well, saying,
Nun Levemus corda nostra cum manibus ad Dominum in cælos.
42 “We are the ones who sinned; we are the ones who rebelled; and you haven't forgiven us!”
Nun Nos inique egimus, et ad iracundiam provocavimus; idcirco tu inexorabilis es.
43 You have wrapped yourself in anger and chased us down, killing without mercy. You have killed without pity.
Samech Operuisti in furore, et percussisti nos; occidisti, nec pepercisti.
44 You have wrapped yourself with a cloud that no prayer can penetrate.
Samech Opposuisti nubem tibi, ne transeat oratio.
45 You have made us waste and refuse to the nations around.
Samech Eradicationem et abjectionem posuisti me in medio populorum.
46 All our enemies open their mouths to criticize us.
Phe Aperuerunt super nos os suum omnes inimici.
47 We're terrified and trapped, devastated and destroyed.
Phe Formido et laqueus facta est nobis vaticinatio, et contritio.
48 Tears stream from my eyes over the death of my people.
Phe Divisiones aquarum deduxit oculus meus, in contritione filiæ populi mei.
49 My eyes overflow with tears all the time. They won't stop
Ain Oculus meus afflictus est, nec tacuit, eo quod non esset requies.
50 Until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what's going on.
Ain Donec respiceret et videret Dominus de cælis.
51 What I've seen torments me because of what's happened to all the women in my city.
Ain Oculus meus deprædatus est animam meam in cunctis filiabus urbis meæ.
52 For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.
Sade Venatione ceperunt me quasi avem inimici mei gratis.
53 They tried to kill me by tossing me into a pit and throwing stones at me.
Sade Lapsa est in lacum vita mea, et posuerunt lapidem super me.
54 Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
Sade Inundaverunt aquæ super caput meum; dixi: Perii.
55 I called out for you, Lord, from deep inside the pit.
Coph Invocavi nomen tuum, Domine, de lacu novissimo.
56 You heard me when I prayed, “Please don't ignore my cry for help.”
Coph Vocem meam audisti; ne avertas aurem tuam a singultu meo et clamoribus.
57 You came to me when I called you, and you told me, “Don't be afraid!”
Coph Appropinquasti in die quando invocavi te; dixisti: Ne timeas.
58 You have taken my case and defended me; you have saved my life!
Res Judicasti, Domine, causam animæ meæ, redemptor vitæ meæ.
59 Lord, you have seen the injustices done to me; please vindicate me!
Res Vidisti, Domine, iniquitatem illorum adversum me: judica judicium meum.
60 You have observed how vengeful they are and how often they've plotted against me.
Res Vidisti omnem furorem, universas cogitationes eorum adversum me.
61 Lord, you have heard how they've insulted me, and what they've plotted against me,
Sin Audisti opprobrium eorum, Domine, omnes cogitationes eorum adversum me.
62 How my enemies talk against me and complain about me all the time!
Sin Labia insurgentium mihi, et meditationes eorum adversum me tota die.
63 Just look! Whether they're sitting down and or standing up, they go on making fun of me in their songs.
Sin Sessionem eorum et resurrectionem eorum vide; ego sum psalmus eorum.
64 Pay them back as they deserve, Lord, for all they've done!
Thau Redes eis vicem, Domine, juxta opera manuum suarum.
65 Give them a covering for their minds! May your curse be on them!
Thau Dabis eis scutum cordis, laborem tuum.
66 Chase them down in your anger, Lord, and get rid of them from the earth!
Thau Persequeris in furore, et conteres eos sub cælis, Domine.]
