The Lamentations of Jeremy, for the Most Part According to Tremellius, Chapter I

1. How sits this city, late most populous, Thus solitary, and like a widow thus? Amplest of nations, queen of provinces She was, who now thus tributary is?

2. Still in the night she weeps, and her tears fall Down by her cheeks along, and none of all Her lovers comfort her; perfidiously Her friends have dealt, and now are enemy

3. Unto great bondage, and afflictions, Judah is captive led; those nations With whom she dwells, no place of rest afford; In straits she meets her persecutors’ sword.

4. Empty are the gates of Zion, and her ways Mourn, because none come to her solemn days. Her priests do groan, her maids are comfortless; And she’s unto herself a bitterness.

5. Her foes are grown her head, and live at peace, Because, when her transgressions did increase, The Lord strook her with sadness; the enemy Doth drive her children to captivity.

6. From Zion’s daughter is all beauty gone; Like harts which seek for pasture, and find none, Her princes are; and now before the foe Which still pursues them, without strength they go.

7. Now in their days of tears, Jerusalem —Her men slain by the foe, none succouring them— Remembers what of old she esteemed most, Whiles her foes laugh at her, for what she hath lost.

8. Jerusalem hath sinn’d, therefore is she Removed, as women in uncleanness be; Who honour’d, scorn her, for her foulness they Have seen; herself doth groan, and turn away.

9. Her foulness in her skirts was seen, yet she Remember’d not her end; miraculously Therefore she fell, none comforting; behold, O Lord, my affliction, for the foe grows bold.

10. Upon all things where her delight hath been, The foe hath stretch’d his hand, for she hath seen Heathen, whom thou command’st should not do so, Into her holy sanctuary go.

11. And all her people groan, and seek for bread; And they have given, only to be fed, All precious things, wherein their pleasure lay; How cheap I’m grown, O Lord, behold, and weigh.

12. All this concerns not you, who pass by me; O see, and mark if any sorrow be Like to my sorrow, which Jehovah hath Done to me in the day of His fierce wrath?

13. That fire, which by Himself is governed, He hath cast from heaven on my bones, and spread A net before my feet, and me o’erthrown, And made me languish all the day alone.

14. His hand hath of my sins framèd a yoke Which wreathed, and cast upon my neck, hath broke My strength; the Lord unto those enemies Hath given me, from whom I cannot rise.

15. He under foot hath trodden in my sight My strong men; He did company accite To break my young men; He the winepress hath Trod upon Judah’s daughter in His wrath.

16. For these things do I weep; mine eye, mine eye Casts water out; for He which should be nigh To comfort me, is now departed far; The foe prevails, forlorn my children are.

17. There’s none, though Zion do stretch out her hand, To comfort her; it is the Lord’s command That Jacob’s foes girt him; Jerusalem Is as an unclean woman amongst them.

18. But yet the Lord is just, and righteous still; I have rebell’d against His holy will; O hear all people, and my sorrow see, My maids, my young men in captivity.

19. I called for my lovers then, but they Deceived me, and my priests, and elders lay Dead in the city; for they sought for meat Which should refresh their souls, and none could get.

20. Because I am in straits, Jehovah, see! My heart o’erturn’d, my bowels muddy be; Because I have rebell’d so much, as fast The sword without, as death within, doth waste.

21. Of all which here I mourn, none comforts me; My foes have heard my grief, and glad they be, That Thou hast done it; but Thy, promised day Will come, when, as I suffer, so shall they.

22. Let all their wickedness appear to Thee; Do unto them, as Thou hast done to me, For all my sins; the sighs which I have had Are very many, and my heart is sad.