Lamentaciones 4

1¡Cómo se ha oscurecido el oro! ¡Cómo el oro fino perdió su valor! Dispersas están las piedras del Santuario en las esquinas de todas las calles.

2Los nobles hijos de Sión, estimados como oro puro, ¡cómo son tenidos por vasos de barro, obra de manos de alfarero!

3Aun los chacales dan la teta y amamantan a sus cachorros; la hija de mi pueblo se muestra cruel como los avestruces del desierto.

4La lengua del niño de pecho, de sed se pega al paladar; los pequeñuelos piden pan, y no hay quien se lo reparta.

5Los que comían manjares delicados, perecen por las calles; abrazan el estiércol los que se criaron entre púrpura.

6La maldad de la hija de mi pueblo es mayor que el pecado de Sodoma, que fue destruida en un momento, sin que nadie pusiera en ella la mano.

7Brillaban sus príncipes más que la nieve, eran más blancos que la leche, y sus cuerpos más rojos que el coral; un zafiro era su talle.

8Ahora su aspecto es más oscuro que la misma oscuridad; no se los reconoce en las calles; su piel se les pega a los huesos, seca como un palo.

9Más dichosos son los traspasados por la espada que los muertos de hambre, que mueren extenuados por falta de los frutos del campo.

10Las manos de las mujeres, de suyo, compasivas, cuecen a sus propios hijos; les sirven de comida entre las ruinas de la hija de mi pueblo.

11Yahvé ha apurado su furor, derramando su ardiente ira; encendió en Sión un fuego que ha devorado sus fundamentos.

12No creían los reyes de la tierra, ni cuantos habitan el orbe, que el adversario, el enemigo, entraría por las puertas de Jerusalén.

13a causa de los pecados de sus profetas, y de las culpas de sus sacerdotes, que en medio de ella derramaron la sangre de los justos.

14Erraban por las calles, como ciegos manchados de sangre, y no se podía tocar sus vestidos.

15¡Apartaos! ¡Un inmundo!, les gritaban. ¡Apartaos, apartaos! ¡No toquéis! Cuando huyendo vagaron errantes, los paganos decían: “No han de demorar (entre nosotros).”

16El rostro de Yahvé los ha dispersado, no volverá a mirarlos, pues no respetaban a los sacerdotes, y nadie se compadecía de los ancianos.

17Nuestros ojos desfallecían esperando en vano nuestro socorro; desde nuestra atalaya buscábamos con nuestras miradas un pueblo que no pudo salvar.

18Espiaban nuestros pasos, impidiéndonos pasar por nuestras plazas. Se acercó nuestro fin, se cumplieron nuestros días; porque nuestro fin ha llegado.

19Más veloces que las águilas del cielo, eran nuestros perseguidores; nos perseguían por los montes, nos armaban emboscadas en el desierto.

20El espíritu de nuestro rostro, el ungido de Yahvé, fue tornado preso en los hoyos de ellos; y nosotros decíamos que bajo su sombra viviríamos entre las naciones.

21Aunque prorrumpes en júbilo y te gozas, hija de Edom, que habitas en la tierra de Us; también a ti llegará el cáliz, y embriagada te desnudarás.

22Hija de Sión, tiene su término tu iniquidad; Él no volverá a llevarte al cautiverio; pero castigará tu iniquidad, oh hija de Edom, pondrá al descubierto tus pecados.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2Beth. 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?

3Ghimel. 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.

4Daleth. 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.

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

6Vau. 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.

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

8Heth. 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.

9Teth. 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.

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

11Caph. 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.

12Lamed. 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.

13Mem. 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.

14Nun. 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.

15Samech. 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.

16Phe. 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.

17Ain. 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.

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

19Coph. 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.

20Res. 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.

21Sin. 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.

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