The prophet lamenteth the miseries of the city and people in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem: the gold darkened, the noble children reputed as earthen vessels, the tender-hearted women boiling their own children for food, the Nazarites once whiter than snow now blacker than coals: 13. all for the sins of false prophets and priests that shed innocent blood: 21. and he foretelleth that the like cup shall come to Edom.The prophet lamenteth the miseries of the citie and people in the siege and destruction of Ierusalem: the gold darkned, the noble children reputed as earthen vessels, the tender-hearted wemen boyling their owne children for food, the Nazareites once whiter then snow now blacker then coales: 13. al for the sinnes of false prophets and priests that shed innocent bloud: 21. and he foretelleth that the like cuppe shal come to Edom.✦
How is the gold darkened, the best colour changed, the stones of the sanctuary dispersed in the head of all streets?HOw is the gold darkned, the best colour changed, the stones of the sanctuarie dispersed in the head of al streetes?✦Aleph. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus ! dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum !
2The noble children of Sion, and they that were clothed with the principal gold: how are they reputati: supposed by rumour; accounted, reckoned as earthen vessels, the work of the potter's hands?The noble children of Sion, & they that were clothed with the principal gold: how are they reputed as earthen vessels, the worke of the potters handes?✦Beth. Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo : quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli !
3Yea even the lamias have opened their breast, they have given suck to their young, the daughter of my people is cruel, as the ostrich in the desert.Yea euen the lamiaes haue opened their breast, they haue geuen sucke to their yong, the daughter of my people is cruel, as the ostrich in the desert.✦Ghimel. Sed et lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos : filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.
4The tongue of the suckling hath cloven to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked bread, and there was none that brake it unto them.The tongue of the suckling hath clouen to the roofe of his mouth for thirst: the litle ones haue asked bread, and there was none that brake it vnto them.✦Daleth. Adhæsit lingua lactentis ad palatum ejus in siti ; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.
5They that fed voluptuously, have died in the ways: they that were brought up in scarlet, have embraced the dung.They that fed voluptuously, haue dyed in the wayes: they that were brought vp in scarlet, haue imbraced the dung.He. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis ; qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.
6And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is become greater than the sin of Sodom: which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her.And the iniquitie of the daughter of my people is become greater then the sinne of Sodom: which was ouerthrowen in a moment, and handes tooke nothing in her.✦Vau. Et major effecta est iniquitas filiæ populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quæ subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.
7Her Nazarites whiter than snow, purer than milk, ruddier than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.Her Nazareites whiter then snow, purer then milke, ruddier then the old yuorie, fayrer then the sapphire.✦Zain. Candidiores Nazaræi ejus nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.
8Their face is made blacker than coals, and they are not known in the streets: their skin hath cloven to their bones, it is withered, and is made as wood.Their face is made blacker then coales, and they are not knowne in the streetes: their skinne hath clouen to their bones, it is withered, and is made as wood.✦Heth. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum et non sunt cogniti in plateis ; adhæsit cutis eorum ossibus : aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.
9It was better with them that were slain with the sword, than with them that were killed by famine: because these pined away consumed by the barrenness of the country.It was better with them that were slaine with the sword, then with them that were killed by famine: because these pyned away consumed by the barrennes of the countrie.✦Teth. Melius fuit occisis gladio quam interfectis fame, quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terræ.
10The hands of pitiful women have coxerunt: soaked, waterlogged; boiled, cooked their own children: they were made their cibus: animal flesh; food generally in the destruction of the daughter of my people.The handes of pitiful wemen haue sodden their owne children: they were made their meate in the destruction of the daughter of my people.✦Jod. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos ; facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiæ populi mei.
11Our Lord hath accomplished his fury, he hath poured out the wrath of his indignation: and he hath kindled a fire in Sion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.Our Lord hath accomplished his furie, he hath powred out the wrath of his indignation: and he hath kindled a fyre in Sion, and it hath deuoured the fundations therof.✦Caph. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suæ : et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta ejus.
12The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world did not believe, that the adversary and the enemy should enter in by the gates of Jerusalem.The kinges of the earth, and al the inhabitants of the world did not beleue, that the aduersarie and the enemie should enter in by the gates of Ierusalem.✦Lamed. Non crediderunt reges terræ, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Jerusalem.
13For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, which have shed the blood of just men in the midst of her.For the sinnes of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priestes, which haue shed the bloud of iust men in the middes of her.✦Mem. Propter peccata prophetarum ejus, et iniquitates sacerdotum ejus, qui effuderunt in medio ejus sanguinem justorum.
14The blind wandered in the streets, they were polluted with blood: and when they could not, they held their skirts.The blind wandered in the streetes, they were polluted with bloud: and when they could not, they held their skirtes.✦Nun. Erraverunt cæci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine ; cumque non possent, tenuerunt lacinias suas.
15Depart ye polluted, they cried to them: depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they brawled, and were moved: they said among the Gentiles: He will add no more to dwell among them.Depart ye polluted, they cryed to them: depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they brawled, & were moued: they said among the Gentiles: He wil adde no more to dwel among thé.✦Samech. Recedite polluti, clamaverunt eis ; recedite, abite, nolite tangere : jurgati quippe sunt, et commoti dixerunt inter gentes : Non addet ultra ut habitet in eis.
16The face of our Lord hath divided them, he will not add to respect them: they have not reverenced the faces of the priests, neither had they pity on the senum: peoples of antiquity; the elders, the old men.The face of our Lord hath diuided them, he wil not adde to respect them: they haue not reuerenced the faces of the priests, neither had they pitie on the ancients.✦Phe. Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos ; facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.
17Whiles we yet stood, our eyes failed towards our vain help, when we looked attentive to a nation, that was not able to save.Whiles we yet stood, our eyes fayled towards our vaine helpe, when we looked attentiue to a nation, that was not able to saue.✦Ain. Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum ; cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem quæ salvare non poterat.
18Our steps slipped in the way of our streets, our end draweth near: our days are accomplished, because our end is come.Our steppes slipped in the way of our streetes, our end draweth nere: our dayes are accomplished, because our end is come.✦Sade. Lubricaverunt vestigia nostra in itinere platearum nostrarum ; appropinquavit finis noster, completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster.
19Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the heaven: upon the mountains they pursued us, in the desert they lay in wait against us.Our persecuters were swifter then the eagles of the heauen: vpon the mountaines they pursued vs, in the desert they lay in waite against vs.✦Coph. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis cæli ; super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.
20The spirit of our mouth Christ our Lord is taken in our sins: to whom we have said: In thy shadow shall we live among the Gentiles.The spirit of our mouth Christ our Lord is taken in our sinnes: to whom we haue said: In thy shadow shal we liue among the Gentiles.✦Res. Spiritus oris nostri, christus Dominus, captus est in peccatis nostris, cui diximus : In umbra tua vivemus in gentibus.
21Rejoice, and be glad O daughter of Edom, which dwellest in the Land of Hus: to thee also shall the cup come, thou shalt be made drunken, and naked.Reioyce, and be glad ô daughter of Edom, which dwellest in the Land of Hus: to thee also shal the cuppe come, thou shalt be made drunken, and naked.✦Sin. Gaude et lætare, filia Edom, quæ habitas in terra Hus ! ad te quoque perveniet calix : inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.
22Thine iniquity is accomplished O daughter of Sion, he will add no more to transmigret: to convey, or carry away with emotion; to carry away into captivity thee: he hath visited thine iniquity O daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins.Thine iniquitie is accomplished ô daughter of Sion, he wil adde no more to transport thee: he hath visited thine iniquitie ô daughter of Edom, he hath discouered thy sinnes.✦Thau. Completa est iniquitas tua, filia Sion : non addet ultra ut transmigret te. Visitavit iniquitatem tuam, filia Edom ; discooperuit peccata tua.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.