2 Beth. The noble children of Sion, & they that were clothed with the principal gold: how are they reputed as earthen vessels, the work of the potter's hands?📜💬📚

3 Ghimel. Yea even the lamiaes have opened their breast, they have given suck to their young, the daughter of my people is cruel, as the ostrich in the desert.📜💬📚

4 Daleth. The 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.📜💬📚

5 He. They that fed voluptuously, have died in the ways: they that were brought up in scarlet, have embraced the dung.📜💬📚

6 Vau. And 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.📜💬📚

7 Zain. Her Nazareites whiter than snow, purer than milk, ruddier than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.📜💬📚

8 Heth. Their 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.📜💬📚

9 Teth. It 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.📜💬📚

10 Jod. The hands of pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were made their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.📜💬📚

11 Caph. Our 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.📜💬📚

12 Lamed. The 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.📜💬📚

13 Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, which have shed the blood of just men in the midst of her.📜💬📚

14 Nun. The blind wandered in the streets, they were polluted with blood: and when they could not, they held their skirts.📜💬📚

15 Samech. Depart ye polluted, they cried to them: depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they brawled, & were moved: they said among the Gentiles: He will add no more to dwell among them.📜💬📚

16 Phe. The 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 ancients.📜💬📚

17 Ain. Whilst we yet stood, our eyes failed towards our vain help, when we looked attentive to a nation, that was not able to save.📜💬📚

18 Sade. Our steps slipped in the way of our streets, our end draweth near: our days are accomplished, because our end is come.📜💬📚

19 Coph. Our persecuters were swifter than the eagles of the heaven: upon the mountains they pursued us, in the desert they lay in wait against us.📜💬📚

20 Res. The 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.📜💬📚

21 Sin. Rejoice, 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.📜💬📚

22 Thau. Thine iniquity is accomplished o daughter of Sion, he will add no more to transport thee: he hath visited thine iniquity o daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins.📜💬📚

Douay Rheims Original ↷

Lamentations 4 📜 📕 ↷

Distress of Zion

Next Chapter: Lamentations 5