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

1. How is the gold become so dim? How is Purest and finest gold thus changed to this? The stones which were stones of the sanctuary, Scatter’d in corners of each street do lie.

2. The precious sons of Zion, which should be Valued at purest gold, how do we see Low rated now, as earthen pitchers, stand, Which are the work of a poor potter’s hand?

3. Even the sea-calfs draw their breasts, and give Suck to their young; my people’s daughters live, By reason of the foes’ great cruelness, As do the owls in the vast wilderness.

4. And when the sucking child doth strive to draw, His tongue for thirst cleaves to his upper jaw; And when for bread the children cry, There is no man that doth them satisfy.

5. They which before were delicately fed, Now in the streets forlorn have perished; And they which ever were in scarlet clothed, Sit and embrace the dunghills which they loathed.

6. The daughters of my people have sinn’d more, Than did the town of Sodom sin before; Which being at once destroy’d, there did remain No hands amongst them to vex them again.

7. But heretofore, purer her Nazarite Was than the snow, and milk was not so white; As carbuncles did their pure bodies shine, And all their polish’dness was sapphirine.

8. They’re darker now than blackness; none can know Them by the face, as through the street they go; For now their skin doth cleave unto their bone, And withered, is like to dry wood grown.

9. Better by sword than famine ’tis to die; And better through-pierced, than through penury. 10. Women, by nature pitiful, have eat Their children—dress’d with their own hand—for meat.

11. Jehovah here fully accomplish’d hath His indignation, and pour’d forth His wrath; Kindled a fire in Zion, which hath power To eat, and her foundations to devour.

12. Nor would the kings of th’ earth, nor all which live In the inhabitable world believe, That any adversary, any foe, Into Jerusalem should enter so.

13. For the priests’ sins, and prophets’, which have shed Blood in the streets and the just murdered; 14. Which, when those men whom they made blind did stray Thorough the streets, defiled by the way

With blood, the which impossible it was Their garment should ’scape touching, as they pass, 15. Would cry aloud, “Depart, defilèd men, Depart, depart, and touch not us!” and then

They fled, and stray’d, and with the Gentiles were; Yet told their friends, they should not long dwell there. 16. For this they’re scatter’d by Jehovah’s face, Who never will regard them more; no grace

Unto their old men shall the foe afford; Nor, that they’re priests, redeem them from the sword. 17. And we as yet, for all these miseries Desiring our vain help, consume our eyes.

And such a nation as cannot save, We in desire and speculation have; 18. They hunt our steps, that in the streets we fear To go; our end is now approached near.

Our days accomplish’d are; this the last day; Eagles of heav’n are not so swift as they 19. Which follow us; o’er mountain tops they fly At us, and for us in the desert lie.

20. Th’ Anointed Lord, breath of our nostrils, He Of whom we said, under His shadow we Shall with more ease under the heathen dwell, Into the pit which these men digged, fell.

21. Rejoice, O Edom’s daughter, joyful be Thou that inhabit’st Uz, for unto thee This cup shall pass, and thou with drunkenness Shalt fill thyself, and show thy nakedness.

22. Then thy sins, O Zion, shall be spent, The Lord will not leave thee in banishment. Thy sins, O Edom’s daughter, He will see, And for them, pay thee with captivity.