Klagesangene 4
1 Hvor gullet blir mørkt, det edleste gull forandret, de hellige stener strødd omkring ved alle gatehjørner!
ALEPH. How will the gold be tarnished, [and] the fine silver changed! the sacred stones have been poured forth at the top of all the streets.
2 Sions barn, de dyrebare, like i verd med det fineste gull, hvor de er blitt aktet som lerkrukker, et verk av en pottemakers hender!
BETH. The precious sons of Zion, who were equalled in value with gold, how are they counted as earthen vessels, the works of the hands of the potter!
3 Endog sjakaler rekker bryst, gir sine unger die; mitt folks datter er blitt grusom som strutsen i ørkenen.
GIMEL. Nay, serpents have drawn out the breasts, they give suck to their young, the daughters of my people are incurably cruel, as an ostrich in a desert.
4 Diebarnets tunge henger fast ved ganen av tørst; små barn ber om brød, det er ingen som deler ut til dem,
DALETH. The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the little children ask for bread, [and] there is none to break [it] to them.
5 De som åt fine retter, ligger elendige på gatene; de som blev båret på skarlagen, favner møkkdynger.
HE. They that feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that used to be nursed in scarlet have clothed themselves with dung.
6 Så blev straffen over mitt folks datter større enn straffen over Sodoma, som blev lagt i grus i et øieblikk, uten at hender blev løftet imot det.
VAU. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodoma, [the city] that was overthrown very suddenly, and none laboured against her [with their] hands.
7 Hennes fyrster var renere enn sne, hvitere enn melk; de var rødere på legemet enn koraller; som safir var deres utseende.
ZAIN. Her Nazarites were made purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were purified [as] with fire, their polishing was superior to sapphire stone.
8 Mørkere enn sort er nu deres utseende, de blir ikke kjent på gatene; deres hud henger ved deres ben, den er blitt tørr som tre.
HETH. Their countenance is become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has cleaved to their bones; they are withered, they are become as a stick.
9 Lykkeligere var de som blev drept ved sverd, enn de som blev drept ved hunger, de som tærtes bort og gikk til grunne av mangel på brød.
TETH. The slain with the sword were better than they that were slain with hunger: they have departed, pierced through from [lack of] the fruits of the field.
10 Ømhjertede kvinner kokte selv sine egne barn, de tjente dem til føde da mitt folks datter gikk under.
JOD. The hands of tender-hearted women have sodden their own children: they became meat for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 Herren uttømte sin harme, han utøste sin brennende vrede og tendte en ild i Sion, og den fortærte dets grunnvoller.
CHAPH. The Lord has accomplished his wrath; he has poured out fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Sion, and it has devoured her foundations.
12 Jordens konger og alle som bodde på jorderike, trodde ikke at nogen motstander og fiende skulde komme inn gjennem Jerusalems porter.
LAMED. The kings of the earth, [even] all that dwell in the world, believed not that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.
13 For dets profeters synder, dets presters misgjerninger, de som utøste rettferdiges blod i byen, er det skjedd.
MEM. For the sins of her prophets, [and] iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her,
14 De vanket omkring på gatene som blinde, tilsølt med blod, så ingen kunde røre ved deres klær.
NUN. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their raiment [with it].
15 Vik bort! Uren! ropte folk til dem - vik bort, vik bort, rør ikke ved oss! For de har flyktet og vanker omkring; det sies blandt folkene: De skal ikke bli her lenger!
SAMECH. Depart you from the unclean ones: call you them: depart, depart, touch [them] not: for they are on fire, yes, they stagger: say you amongst the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].
16 Herrens åsyn har spredt dem, han ser ikke mere til dem; prester akter de ikke, over de gamle forbarmer de sig ikke.
AIN. The presence of the Lord [was] their portion; [but] he will not again look upon them: they regarded not the person of the priests, they pitied not the prophets.
17 Da det ennu stod, stirret våre matte øine forgjeves efter hjelp; på vårt vakttårn speidet vi efter et folk som ikke kunde frelse oss.
PHE. While we yet lived our eyes failed, while we looked in vain for our help. TSADE. We looked to a nation that could not save.
18 De lurte på våre skritt, så vi ikke kunde gå på våre gater; vår ende var kommet nær, vår tid var omme, ja, vår ende var kommet.
We have hunted [for] our little ones, that they should not walk in our streets. KOPH. Our time has drawn near, our days are fulfilled, our time is come.
19 Våre forfølgere var raskere enn himmelens ørner; på fjellene forfulgte de oss, i ørkenen lurte de på oss.
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky, they flew on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us.
20 Vår livsånde, Herrens salvede, blev fanget i deres graver, han om hvem vi sa: I hans skygge vil vi leve blandt folkene.
RECHS. The breath of our nostrils, [our] anointed Lord, was taken in their destructive snares, of whom we said, In his shadow we shall live amongst the Gentiles.
21 Fryd dig og gled dig bare, Edoms datter, du som bor i landet Us! Også til dig skal begeret komme; du skal bli drukken og klæ dig naken.
CHSEN. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Idumea, that dwell in the land: yet the cup of the Lord shall pass through to you: you shall be drunken, and pour forth.
22 Din straff er til ende, Sions datter! Han vil ikke mere bortføre dig. Han vil hjemsøke dig for din misgjerning, Edoms datter, åpenbare dine synder.
THAU. O daughter of Sion, your iniquity has come to an end; he shall no more carry you captive: he has visited your iniquities, O daughter of Edom; he has discovered your sins.
