4:1 Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus ! dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum !

4:1 Aleph. How is the gold become dim, the finest colour is changed, the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street?

4:2 Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo : quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli !

4:2 Beth. The noble sons of Sion, and they that were clothed with the best gold: how are they esteemed as earthen vessels, the work of the potter's hands?

4:3 Sed et lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos : filia populi mei crudelis quasi struthio in deserto.

4:3 Ghimel. Even the sea monsters have drawn out the breast, they have given suck to their young: the daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostrich in the desert.

4:4 Adhæsit lingua lactentis ad palatum ejus in siti ; parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.

4:4 Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there was none to break it unto them.

4:5 Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis ; qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.

4:5 He. They that were fed delicately have died in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet have embraced the dung.

4:6 Et major effecta est iniquitas filiæ populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quæ subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.

4:6 Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took nothing in her.

4:7 Candidiores Nazaræi ejus nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.

4:7 Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire.

4:8 Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum et non sunt cogniti in plateis ; adhæsit cutis eorum ossibus : aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.

4:8 Heth. Their face is now made blacker than coals, and they are not known in the streets: their skin hath stuck to their bones, it is withered, and is become like wood.

4:9 Melius fuit occisis gladio quam interfectis fame, quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terræ.

4:9 Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed for want of the fruits of the earth.

4:10 Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos ; facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiæ populi mei.

4:10 Jod. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

4:11 Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suæ : et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta ejus.

4:11 Caph. The Lord hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Sion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

4:12 Non crediderunt reges terræ, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Jerusalem.

4:12 Lamed. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should enter in by the gates of Jerusalem.

4:13 Propter peccata prophetarum ejus, et iniquitates sacerdotum ejus, qui effuderunt in medio ejus sanguinem justorum.

4:13 Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.

4:14 Erraverunt cæci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine ; cumque non possent, tenuerunt lacinias suas.

4:14 Nun. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were defiled with blood: and when they could not help walking in it, they held up their skirts.

4:15 Recedite polluti, clamaverunt eis ; recedite, abite, nolite tangere : jurgati quippe sunt, et commoti dixerunt inter gentes : Non addet ultra ut habitet in eis.

4:15 Samech. Depart you that are defiled, they cried out to them: Depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they quarrelled, and being removed, they said among the Gentiles: He will no more dwell among them.

4:16 Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos ; facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.

4:16 Phe. The face of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, neither had they pity on the ancient.

4:17 Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum ; cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem quæ salvare non poterat.

4:17 Ain. While we were yet standing, our eyes failed, expecting help for us in vain, when we looked attentively towards a nation that was not able to save.

4:18 Lubricaverunt vestigia nostra in itinere platearum nostrarum ; appropinquavit finis noster, completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster.

4:18 Sade. Our steps have slipped in the way of our streets, our end draweth near: our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.

4:19 Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis cæli ; super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.

4:19 Coph. Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the air: they pursued us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

4:20 Spiritus oris nostri, christus Dominus, captus est in peccatis nostris, cui diximus : In umbra tua vivemus in gentibus.

4:20 Res. The breath of our mouth, Christ the Lord, is taken in our sins: to whom we said: Under thy shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.

4:21 Gaude et lætare, filia Edom, quæ habitas in terra Hus ! ad te quoque perveniet calix : inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.

4:21 Sin. Rejoice, and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Hus: to thee also shall the cup come, thou shalt be made drunk, and naked.

4:22 Completa est iniquitas tua, filia Sion : non addet ultra ut transmigret te. Visitavit iniquitatem tuam, filia Edom ; discooperuit peccata tua.

4:22 Thau. Thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Sion, he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he hath visited thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins.