Lamentationes 5
1 Recordare Domine quid acciderit nobis: intuere, et respice opprobrium nostrum.
Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us: behold, and look on our reproach.
2 Hæreditas nostra versa est ad alienos: domus nostræ ad extraneos.
Our inheritance has been turned away to aliens, our houses to strangers:
3 Pupilli facti sumus absque patre, matres nostræ quasi viduæ.
we are become orphans, we have no father, our mothers are as widows.
4 Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus: ligna nostra pretio comparavimus.
We have drunk our water for money; our wood is sold to us [for a burden] on our neck:
5 Cervicibus nostris minabamur, lassis non dabatur requies.
we have been persecuted, we have laboured, we have had no rest.
6 Ægypto dedimus manum, et Assyriis ut saturaremur pane.
Egypt gave the hand [to us], Assur to their own satisfaction.
7 Patres nostri peccaverunt, et non sunt: et nos iniquitates eorum portavimus.
Our fathers sinned, [and] are not: we have borne their iniquities.
8 Servi dominati sunt nostri: non fuit qui redimeret de manu eorum.
Servants have ruled over us: there is none to ransom [us] out of their hand.
9 In animabus nostris afferebamus panem nobis, a facie gladii in deserto.
We shall bring in our bread with [danger of] our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness.
10 Pellis nostra, quasi clibanus exusta est a facie tempestatum famis.
Our skin is blackened like an oven; they are convulsed, because of the storms of famine.
11 Mulieres in Sion humiliaverunt, et virgines in civitatibus Iuda.
They humbled the women in Sion, the virgins in the cities of Juda.
12 Principes manu suspensi sunt: facies senum non erubuerunt.
Princes were hanged up by their hands: the elders were not honoured.
13 Adolescentibus impudice abusi sunt: et pueri in ligno corruerunt.
The chosen men lifted up [the voice in] weeping, and the youths fainted under the wood.
14 Senes defecerunt de portis: iuvenes de choro psallentium.
And the elders ceased from the gate, the chosen men ceased from their music.
15 Defecit gaudium cordis nostri: versus est in luctum chorus noster.
The joy of our heart has ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
16 Cecidit corona capitis nostri: væ nobis, quia peccavimus.
The crown has fallen [from] our head: yes, woe to us! for we have sinned.
17 Propterea mœstum factum est cor nostrum, ideo contenebrati sunt oculi nostri.
For this has grief come; our heart is sorrowful: for this our eyes are darkened.
18 Propter montem Sion quia disperiit, vulpes ambulaverunt in eo.
Over the mountain of Sion, because it is made desolate, foxes have walked therein.
19 Tu autem Domine in æternum permanebis, solium tuum in generationem et generationem.
But you, O Lord, shall dwell for ever; your throne [shall endure] to generation and generation.
20 Quare in perpetuum oblivisceris nostri? derelinques nos in longitudine dierum?
Therefore will you utterly forget us, and abandon us a long time?
21 Converte nos Domine ad te, et convertemur: innova dies nostros, sicut a principio.
Turn us, O Lord, to you, and we shall be turned; and renew our days as before.
22 Sed proiiciens repulisti nos, iratus es contra nos vehementer.
For you have indeed rejected us; you have been very angry against us.
