1 How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.2 Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish.5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.6 All the splendor has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer.7 In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands, there was no one to help her. Her enemies looked at her and laughed at her destruction.8 Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away.9 Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. "Look, LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed."10 The enemy laid hands on all her treasures; she saw pagan nations enter her sanctuary — those you had forbidden to enter your assembly.11 All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. "Look, LORD, and consider, for I am despised."12 "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the LORD brought on me in the day of his fierce anger?13 "From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.14 "My sins have been bound into a yoke "; by his hands they were woven together. They have been hung on my neck, and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has given me into the hands of those I cannot withstand.15 "The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to "crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah.16 "This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed."17 Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has decreed for Jacob that his neighbors become his foes; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.18 "The LORD is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile.19 "I called to my allies but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive.20 "See, LORD, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death.21 "People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me.22 "Let all their wickedness come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans are many and my heart is faint."

1 Prologus Et factum est, postquam in captivitatem redactus est Isral, et Jerusalem deserta est, sedit Jeremias propheta flens, et planxit lamentatione hac in Jerusalem : et amaro animo suspirans et ejulans, dixit : [ Aleph Quomodo sedet solacivitas plena populo !Facta est quasi viduadomina gentium ;princeps provinciarumfacta est sub tributo.2 Beth Plorans ploravit in nocte,et lacrim ejus in maxillis ejus :non est qui consoletur eam,et omnibus caris ejus ;omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam,et facti sunt ei inimici.3 Ghimel Migravit Judas propter afflictionem,et multitudinem servitutis ;habitavit inter gentes,nec invenit requiem :omnes persecutores ejus apprehenderunt eaminter angustias.4 Daleth Vi Sion lugent, eo quod non sintqui veniant ad solemnitatem :omnes port ejus destruct,sacerdotes ejus gementes ;virgines ejus squalid,et ipsa oppressa amaritudine.5 He Facti sunt hostes ejus in capite ;inimici ejus locupletati sunt :quia Dominus locutus est super eampropter multitudinem iniquitatum ejus.Parvuli ejus ducti sunt in captivitatemante faciem tribulantis.6 Vau Et egressus est a filia Sionomnis decor ejus ;facti sunt principes ejus velut arietesnon invenientes pascua,et abierunt absque fortitudineante faciem subsequentis.7 Zain Recordata est Jerusalem dierum afflictionis su,et prvaricationis,omnium desiderabilium suorum,qu habuerat a diebus antiquis,cum caderet populus ejus in manu hostili,et non esset auxiliator :viderunt eam hostes,et deriserunt sabbata ejus.8 Heth Peccatum peccavit Jerusalem,propterea instabilis facta est ;omnes qui glorificabant eam spreverunt illam,quia viderunt ignominiam ejus :ipsa autem gemensconversa est retrorsum.9 Teth Sordes ejus in pedibus ejus,nec recordata est finis sui ;deposita est vehementer,non habens consolatorem.Vide, Domine, afflictionem meam,quoniam erectus est inimicus.10 Jod Manum suam misit hostisad omnia desiderabilia ejus,quia vidit gentesingressas sanctuarium suum,de quibus prceperasne intrarent in ecclesiam tuam.11 Caph Omnis populus ejus gemens,et qurens panem ;dederunt pretiosa quque pro ciboad refocillandam animam.Vide, Domine, et consideraquoniam facta sum vilis !12 Lamed O vos omnes qui transitis per viam,attendite, et videtesi est dolor sicut dolor meus !quoniam vindemiavit me,ut locutus est Dominus,in die ir furoris sui.13 Mem De excelso misit ignem in ossibus meis,et erudivit me :expandit rete pedibus meis,convertit me retrorsum ;posuit me desolatam,tota die mrore confectam.14 Nun Vigilavit jugum iniquitatum mearum ;in manu ejus convolut sunt,et imposit collo meo.Infirmata est virtus mea :dedit me Dominus in manude qua non potero surgere.15 Samech Abstulit omnes magnificos meos Dominusde medio mei ;vocavit adversum me tempusut contereret electos meos.Torcular calcavit Dominusvirgini fili Juda.16 Ain Idcirco ego plorans,et oculus meus deducens aquas,quia longe factus est a me consolator,convertens animam meam.Facti sunt filii mei perditi,quoniam invaluit inimicus.17 Phe Expandit Sion manus suas ;non est qui consoletur eam.Mandavit Dominus adversum Jacobin circuitu ejus hostes ejus ;facta est Jerusalemquasi polluta menstruis inter eos.18 Sade Justus est Dominus,quia os ejus ad iracundiam provocavi.Audite, obsecro, universi populi,et videte dolorem meum :virgines me et juvenes mei abieruntin captivitatem.19 Coph Vocavi amicos meos,et ipsi deceperunt me ;sacerdotes mei et senes meiin urbe consumpti sunt,quia qusierunt cibum sibiut refocillarent animam suam.20 Res Vide, Domine, quoniam tribulor :conturbatus est venter meus,subversum est cor meum in memetipsa,quoniam amaritudine plena sum.Foris interfecit gladius,et domi mors similis est.21 Sin Audierunt quia ingemisco ego,et non est qui consoletur me ;omnes inimici mei audierunt malum meum,ltati sunt quoniam tu fecisti :adduxisti diem consolationis,et fient similes mei.22 Thau Ingrediatur omne malum eorum coram te :et vindemia eos, sicut vindemiasti mepropter omnes iniquitates meas :multi enim gemitus mei,et cor meum mrens.]