1 - א ( Alef )
How the gold has lost its lustre,
the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
at every street corner.
2 - ב ( Beit )
How the precious children of Zion,
once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered as pots of clay,
the work of a potter’s hands!
3 - ג ( Gimmel )
Even jackals offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but my people have become heartless
like ostriches in the desert.
4 - ד ( Dalet )
Because of thirst the infant’s tongue
sticks to the roof of its mouth;
the children beg for bread,
but no one gives it to them.
5 - ה ( Hey )
Those who once ate delicacies
are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple
now lie on ash heaps.
6 - ו ( Vav )
The punishment of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment
without a hand turned to help her.
7 - ז ( Zayin )
Their princes were brighter than snow
and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
their appearance like lapis lazuli.
8 - ח ( Cheit )
But now they are blacker than soot;
they are not recognised in the streets.
Their skin has shrivelled on their bones;
it has become as dry as a stick.
9 - ט ( Teit )
Those killed by the sword are better off
than those who die of famine;
racked with hunger, they waste away
for lack of food from the field.
10 - י ( Yod )
With their own hands compassionate women
have cooked their own children,
who became their food
when my people were destroyed.
11- כ ( Kaf
The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;
he has poured out his fierce anger.
He kindled a fire in Zion
that consumed her foundations.
12 - ל ( Lamed )
The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor did any of the peoples of the world,
that enemies and foes could enter
the gates of Jerusalem.
13 - מ ( Mem )
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed within her
the blood of the righteous.
14 - נ ( Nun )
Now they grope through the streets
as if they were blind.
They are so defiled with blood
that no one dares to touch their garments.
15 - ס ( Samech )
‘Go away! You are unclean!’ people cry to them.
‘Away! Away! Don’t touch us!’
When they flee and wander about,
people among the nations say,
‘They can stay here no longer.’
16 - ע ( Ayin )
The Lord himself has scattered them;
he no longer watches over them.
The priests are shown no honour,
the elders no favour.
17 - פ ( Pey )
Moreover, our eyes failed,
looking in vain for help;
from our towers we watched
for a nation that could not save us.
18 - צ ( Tzadeh )
People stalked us at every step,
so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
for our end had come.
19 - ק ( Qoof )
Our pursuers were swifter
than eagles in the sky;
they chased us over the mountains
and lay in wait for us in the desert.
20 - ר ( Resh )
The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath,
was caught in their traps.
We thought that under his shadow
we would live among the nations.
21 - ש ( Sheen )
Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,
you who live in the land of Uz.
But to you also the cup will be passed;
you will be drunk and stripped naked.
22 - ת ( Tav )
Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;
he will not prolong your exile.
But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,
and expose your wickedness.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Lamentations - Overview
The Bible Project
Lamentations - David Pawson
Lamentations - by Tim Mackie
(The Bible Project)
Lamentations in 6 Minutes
