Lamentations — The Coverdale Bible (1535)
Lamentations is the set of five laments over the destruction of Jerusalem, traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah. In Coverdale’s Bible of 1535 it stands in the Prophets under the heading “The Lamentatacions of Ieremy”. The 1535 Bible has no verse numbers, so the text keeps its own paragraphs, in 5 chapters, with the marginal notes and references printed after each chapter.
And it came to passe (after Israel was brought in to captiuyte, and Ierusalem destroyed:) that Ieremy the prophet sat wepinge, mournynge and makinge his mone in Ierusalem: so that wᵗ an heuy herte he sighed, & sobbed, sayenge:
Chapter 1
[A] ALas, how sitteth the cite so desolate, yᵗ some tyme was full of people?⁽¹⁾ how is she become like a wedowe, which was the lady of all nacions?⁽²⁾ How is she brought vnder tribute, that ruled all londes?
⁽³⁾She wepeth sore in the night, so that yᵉ teares runne downe hir chekes: for amonge all hir louers, there is none, that geueth her eny comforte: yee hir nexte frendes abhorre her, & are become hir enemies.
⁽⁴⁾Iuda is taken presoner, because she was defyled: & for seruynge so many straunge goddes, she dwelleth now amonge the Heithen. She fyndeth no rest, all they that persecuted her, toke her, and so she dwelleth amonge hir enemies.
[B] The stretes of Sion mourne, because no man commeth more to the solempne feastes:⁽⁵⁾ All hir gates are desolate, hir prestes make lamentacion, hir maydens are carefull, and she herself is in greate heuynesse.
⁽⁶⁾Hir enemies are fallen vpon hir heade, & haue put her to shame: because the LORDE hath chastened her for hir greate wickednes: hir children are ledde awaye captiue before their enemie.⁽⁷⁾
⁽⁸⁾All the bewtie of the doughter of Sion is awaye, hir prynces are become like wethers, that fynde no pasture. They are dryuē awaye before their enemie, so that they haue no more power.
⁽⁹⁾Now doth Ierusalem remembre the tyme of hir misery & disobedience, yee the ioye & pleasure yᵗ she hath had in tymes past: seynge hir people is brought downe thorow the power of their enemie, & there is no man for to helpe her: hir enemies stōde lokinge at her and laugh hir Sabbath dayes to scorne.
[C] Ierusalem synned euer more & more, therfore is she come in decaye.⁽¹⁰⁾ All they that had her in honoure, despise her: for they haue sene hir fylthinesse. Yee she sigheth, and is a shamed of herselfe.
⁽¹¹⁾Hir skyrtes are defyled, she remēbred not what wolde folowe: therfore is hir fall so greate, and there is no mā to comforte her. O LORDE, cōsidre my trouble, for myne enemie hath the vpper honde.
The enemie hath put his honde to all the precious thinges that she had,⁽¹²⁾ yee euen before hir eyes came the Heithen in and out of the Sanctuary:⁽¹³⁾ whom thou (neuertheles) hast forbydden to come within thy congregacion.
All hir people seke their bred with heuynes,⁽¹⁴⁾ & loke what precious thinge euery man hath, that geueth he for meate, to saue his life. Considre (O LORDE) and se, how vyle I am become.
O ye all that go fore by, beholde and se,⁽¹⁵⁾ yf there be eny sorowe like vnto myne, wherwith the LORDE hath troubled me, in the daye of his fearefull wrath.
From aboue hath he sent downe a fyre,[D] in to my bones and chastened me:⁽¹⁶⁾ he hath layed a not for my fete, and throwne me wyde open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must euer be mournynge.
The yocke of my transgression is come at the last, with his honde hath he taken it vp,⁽¹⁷⁾ and put it aboute my neck. My strength is gone: the LORDE hath delyuered me into those hondes, wherout I can not quyte myself.
The LORDE hath destroyed all the mightie men, that were in me.⁽¹⁸⁾ He hath proclamed a feast, to slaughter all my best mē. The LORDE hath troden downe the doughter of Iuda, like as it were in a wyne presse.
Therfore do I wepe,⁽¹⁹⁾ and myne eyes gusshe out of water: for the cōforter that shulde quycken me, is farre fro me. My children are dryuen awaye, for why? the enemie hath gotten the ouer honde.
Sion casteth out hir hōdes, and there is no man to comforte her.⁽²⁰⁾ The LORDE hath layed the enemies rounde aboute Iacob, and Ierusalem is as it were a menstruous womā, in the myddest of them.
The LORDE is rightuous,⁽²¹⁾ for I haue prouoked his countenaunce vnto anger. O take hede all ye people, and considre my heuynes: My maydens and my yonge men are led awaye in to captiuyte.
I called for my louers (but they begyled me:) for my prestes and councelers,⁽²²⁾ but they perished: euen while they sought for meate, to saue their lyues.
Considre (O LORDE) how I am troubled,⁽²³⁾ my wombe is disquieted, my herte turneth aboute in me, and I am full of heuynes. The swearde hurteth me without, and within I am like vnto death.
⁽²⁴⁾They heare my mournynge, but there is none that wil comforte me. All myne enemies haue herde of my trouble, and are glad therof, because thou hast done it. But thou shalt brynge forth the tyme, when they also shal be like vnto me.
⁽²⁵⁾From the shall come all their aduersite: thou shalt plucke them awaye, euē as thou hast plucked me, because of all my wickednesse. For my sorow is very greate, and my herte is heuy.
Notes to Chapter 1
⁽¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩. 4. b ⟨illegible⟩. 15. a
⁽³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁷⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹³⁾ Deu. 23. a
⁽¹⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ 4. Re. 6. f Tren. 2. c
⁽¹⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ Iere. 14. c Tren. 2. ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ Dan. 9. a
⁽²²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
Chapter 2
⁽¹⁾ALas, how hath yᵉ LORDE darckened [A] the doughter of Sion so sore in his wrath?⁽²⁾ As for the honoure of Israel, he hath casten it downe from heauen:⁽³⁾ How happeneth it, that he remembred not his owne fote stole, when he was angrie?
⁽⁴⁾The LORDE hath cast downe all the glory of Iacob without eny fauoure: All the stronge places of the doughter Iuda hath he broken in his wrath, & throwne them downe to the grounde: hir kyngdome & hir prynces hath he suspended.
⁽⁵⁾In the wrath of his indignacion he hath broken all the horne of Israel: he hath with drawē his right honde from the enemie: yee a flame of fyre is kyndled in Iacob, & hath consumed vp all rounde aboute.
⁽⁶⁾He hath bent his bowe like an enemie, he hath fastened his right honde as an aduersary: and euery thinge that was pleasaūt to se, he hath smyten it downe. He hath poured out his wrath like a fyre, in to the tabernacle of the doughter Sion.
⁽⁷⁾The LORDE is become, like as it were an enemie, he hath cast downe Israel & all his places: yee all his stronge holdes hath he destroyed, and fylled the doughter of Iuda wᵗ moch sorow and heuynesse..
⁽⁸⁾Hir tabernacle (which was like a garden [B] of pleasure) hath he destroyed: hir hie solēpne feastes hath he put downe.⁽⁹⁾ The LORDE hath brought it so to passe, that the hie solempne feastes and Sabbathes in Sion, are clene forgottē. In his heuy displeasure hath he made the kynge & prestes to be despised.
⁽¹⁰⁾The LORDE hath forsaken his owne aulter, & is wroth with his owne Sanctuary, & hath geuen the walles of their towres in to the hondes of the enemie. Their enemies made a noyse in the house of the LORDE, as it had bene in a solempne feast daye.
⁽¹¹⁾The LORDE thought to breake downe the walles of the doughter Sion, he spred out his lyne, & drewe not in his honde, till he had destroyed them. Therfore mourne the turrettes and the broken walles together.
Hir portes are casten downe to the grounde, hir barres are broken & smytten in sonder:⁽¹²⁾ hir kynge & prynces are caried awaye to the Gētiles.⁽¹³⁾ They haue nether lawe ner prophetes, ner yet eny vision from the LORDE.
The Senatours of the doughter Sion sit vpon the grounde in sylence,⁽¹⁴⁾ they haue [C] strowed aszshes vpon their heades, and gyrded them selues with sackcloth. The maydens of Ierusalem hange downe their heades to the grounde.
Myne eyes begynne to fayle me thorow wepinge, my body is disquieted,⁽¹⁵⁾ my leueris poured vpon the earth, for the greate hurte of my people, seynge the children and babes dyd swowne in the stretes of the cite.
Euen when they spake to their mothers:⁽¹⁶⁾ where is meate and drynke? for whyle they so sayde, they fell downe in the stretes of the cite, like as they had bene wounded, and some dyed in their mothers bosome.
What shal I saye of the (O thou doughter⁽¹⁷⁾ Ierusalem) to whom shall I lickē the? To whom shal I cōpare the (o thou doughter Sion) to comforte the withall? Thy hurte is like a mayne see, who maye heale the?
Thy prophetes haue loked out vayne & folish thinges for the,⁽¹⁸⁾ they haue not shewed the of thy wickednesse,⁽¹⁹⁾ to kepe the from captiuyte: but haue ouerladen the, and thorow falsede scatred the abrode.
All they that go by the,⁽²⁰⁾ clappe their hondes at the: hissinge and wagginge their heades [D] vpon the doughter Ierusalem, and saye: is this the cite that men call so fayre, wherin the whole londe reioyseth?
All thine enemies gape vpon the,⁽²¹⁾ whisperinge and bytinge their teth, sayenge: let vs deuoure, for the tyme that we loked for, is come: we haue founde and sene it.
The LORDE hath fulfilled the thinge,⁽²²⁾ that he was purposed to do: and perfourmed that he had deuysed longe agoo: he hath destroyed, and not spared. He hath caused thine aduersary to tryumphe ouer the, and set vp the horne of thine enemie.
Let thine hert crie vnto the LORDE, O thou cite of the doughter Sion: let thy teares rūne downe like a ryuer daye & night: rest not, & let not the aple of thine eye leaue of.
Stonde vp, and make thy prayer in the first watch of the night, poure out thine hert like water before the LORDE: lift vp thine hondes, for the lyues of thy yonge children, that dye of honger in the stretes.
⁽²³⁾Beholde (O LORDE) & considre, why hast thou gathered me vp so clene? Shal the women then eate their owne frute, euen children of a spanne longe? Shal the prestes and prophetes be slayne thus in the Sanctuary of the LORDE?
⁽²⁴⁾Yonge & olde lye behinde the stretes vpon the grounde, my maydens & yonge men are slayne with the swearde: whom thou in the daye of thy wrothfull indignacion hast put to death: Yee euen thou hast put them to death, & not spared them.
⁽²⁵⁾My neghbours that are rounde aboute me, hast thou called, as it were to a feast daye: so that in the daye of the LORDES wrath none escaped, nether was eny left behinde. Those that I had brought vp & norisshed, hath myne enemy destroyed.
Notes to Chapter 2
⁽¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ren. 4 b
⁽³⁾ Par. 19. a ⟨illegible⟩sal 98. a
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁹⁾ Iere. 7. b
⁽¹⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹³⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽¹⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽¹⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽¹⁹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²²⁾ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
Chapter 3
[A] I Am the mā, that (thorow the rodd of his wrath) haue experiēce of misery.⁽¹⁾
⁽²⁾He droue me forth, and led me: yee into darcknesse, but not in to light.
⁽³⁾Agaynst me only he turneth his honde, & layeth it euer vpon me.
⁽⁴⁾My flesh & my skynne hath he made olde, and my bones hath he brussed.
⁽⁵⁾He hath buylded rounde aboute me, & closed me in with gall and trauayle.
⁽⁶⁾He hath set me in darcknesse, as they that be deed for euer.
⁽⁷⁾He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, & hath layed heuy lynckes vpon me.
⁽⁸⁾Though I crie & call piteously, yet heareth he not my prayer.
⁽⁹⁾He hath stopped vp my wayes with foure squared stones, & made my pathes croked.
⁽¹⁰⁾He layeth waite for me like a Bere, and as a lyon in a hole.
⁽¹¹⁾He hath marred my wayes, and brokē me in peces, he hath layed me waist altogether.
⁽¹²⁾He hath bent his bowe, and made me as it were a marck to shute at.
⁽¹³⁾The arowes of his quyuer hath he shot, euen in to my reynes.
⁽¹⁴⁾I am laughed to scorne of all my people, they make songes vpon me all yᵉ daye lōge.
⁽¹⁵⁾He hath fylled me with bytternesse, & geuen me wormwod to drynke.
⁽¹⁶⁾He hath smytten my teth in peces, & rolled me in the dust.
⁽¹⁷⁾He hath put my soule out of rest, I forget all good thinges.
⁽¹⁸⁾I thought in myself: I am vndone, there is no hope for me in the LORDE.
⁽¹⁹⁾O remembre yet my mysery and my trouble, the wormwod and the gall.
Yee thou shalt remēbre them,⁽²⁰⁾ for my soule melteth awaye in me.
Whyle I cōsidre these thinges in my hert,⁽²¹⁾ I get a hope agayne.
Namely,⁽²²⁾ that the mercies of the LORDE are not clene gone, & that his louynge kyndnesse ceasseth not.
His faithfulnes is greate,⁽²³⁾ and renueth it self as the mornynge.
The LORDE is my porcion (saieth my soule) therfore wil I hope in him.⁽²⁴⁾
O how good is the LORDE vnto thē,⁽²⁵⁾ that put their trust in him, and to the soule that seketh after him?
O how good is it with stilnesse to wate and tarie, for the health of the LORDE?⁽²⁶⁾
O how good is it for a man,⁽²⁷⁾ to take the yock vpon him from his youth vp?
He sitteth alone, he holdeth him still▪ ⁽²⁸⁾ and dwelleth quietly by him self.
He layeth his face vpon the earth,⁽²⁹⁾ yf (per case) there happen to be eny hope.
He offreth his cheke to the smyter,⁽³⁰⁾ he will be content with reproues.
For the LORDE wil not forsake for euer.⁽³¹⁾
But though he do cast of,⁽³²⁾ yet (acordinge to yᵉ multitude of his mercies) he receaueth to grace agayne.
For he doth not plage,⁽³³⁾ & cast out the children of men from his herte.
To treade all the presoners of the earth vnder his fete.⁽³⁴⁾
To moue the iudgment of man before the most highest.⁽³⁵⁾
To condemne a man in his cause:⁽³⁶⁾ The LORDE hath no pleasure in soch thinges.
What is he then that saieth: there shulde somthinge be done without the LORDES cōmaundement?⁽³⁷⁾
Out of the mouth of the most highest goeth not euell and good.⁽³⁸⁾
Wherfore them murmureth the lyuinge man? let him murmoure at his owne synne,⁽³⁹⁾
Let vs loke well vpon oure owne waies,⁽⁴⁰⁾ & remembre oureselues, and turne agayne to yᵉ LORDE.
Let vs lift vp oure hertes with oure hondes vnto the LORDE, that is in heauen.⁽⁴¹⁾
We haue bene dyssemblers & haue offended, wilt thou therfore not be intreated?⁽⁴²⁾
Thou hast couered vs in thy wrath,⁽⁴³⁾ & persecuted vs, thou hast slayne vs without eny fauoure.
Thou hast hyd thy self in a cloude,⁽⁴⁴⁾ that oure prayer shulde not go thorow.
Thou hast made vs outcastes, and to be despysed amonge the Heithen.⁽⁴⁵⁾
⁽⁴⁶⁾All oure enemies gape vpon vs.
⁽⁴⁷⁾Feare and snare is come vpon vs, yee despite and destruccion.
⁽⁴⁸⁾Whole ryuers of water guszshe out of myne eyes, for the greate hurte of my people.
⁽⁴⁹⁾Myne eyes runne, and can not ceasse, for there is no rest.
⁽⁵⁰⁾O LORDE, when wilt thou loke downe frō heauen, and considre?
⁽⁵¹⁾Myne eye breaketh my herte, because of all the doughters of my cite.
⁽⁵²⁾Myne enemies hunted me out sharpely like a byrde, yee and that with out a cause.
⁽⁵³⁾They haue put downe my life in to a pitte,⁽⁵⁴⁾ and layed a stone vpon me.
⁽⁵⁵⁾They poured water vpon my heade, then thought I: now am I vndone.
⁽⁵⁶⁾I called vpon thy name (O LORDE) out of the depe pitte.
⁽⁵⁷⁾Thou hast herde my voyce, & hast not turned awaye thine eares fro my sighinge and crienge.
Thou hast enclyned yⁱ self vnto me, whē I called vpon the,⁽⁵⁸⁾ & haist sayde: feare not.
⁽⁵⁹⁾Thou (O LORDE) hast mayntened the cause of my soule, and hast redemed my life.
O LORDE, thou hast sene my blasphemers, take thou my cause vpon the.⁽⁶⁰⁾
Thou hast well considred how they go aboute to do me harme,⁽⁶¹⁾ & that all their councels are agaynst me.
Thou hast herde their despytefull wordes (O LORDE) yee and all their ymaginacions agaynst me.⁽⁶²⁾
The lippes of myne enemies, & their deuyces that they take agaynst me,⁽⁶³⁾ all the daye longe.
Thou seist also their sittinge downe and their rysinge vp,⁽⁶⁴⁾ they make their songes of nothinge but of me.
⁽⁶⁵⁾Rewarde them (O LORDE) acordinge to the workes of their hondes.
Geue them yᵉ thinge, that their owne herte is afrayed of:⁽⁶⁶⁾ euen thy curse.
⁽⁶⁷⁾Persecute them, (O LORDE) with thy indignacion, & rote them out from vnder the heauen.
Notes to Chapter 3
⁽¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
Chapter 4
[A] O How is the golde become so dymme? How is the goodly coloure of it so sore chaunged?⁽¹⁾ and the stones of yᵉ Sanctuary thus scatred in the corner of euery strete?
The children of Sion that were allwaye in honoure,⁽²⁾ & clothed with yᵉ most precious golde: how are they now becomme like the erthen vessels which be made with the potters honde?
The Lamyes geue their yonge ones suc⟨illegible⟩ wᵗ bare brestes:⁽³⁾ but the doughter of my people is cruel, and dwelleth in the wyldernesse: like the Estriches.
The tonges of the suckinge children,⁽⁴⁾ cleue to yᵉ rofe of their mouthes for very thurst. The yonge children axe bred, but there is noman, that geueth it them.
They that were wonte to fayre delicatly, perishe in the stretes:⁽⁵⁾ they that afore were brought vp in purple, make now moch of donge.
The synne of the doughter of my people [B] is become greater,⁽⁶⁾ then yᵉ wickednesse of Sodome, that sodēly was destroyed, and not taken with hondes.
Hir absteyners (or Nazarees) were whyter then yᵉ snowe or mylke:⁽⁷⁾ their coloure was fresh read as the Corall, their beutie like the Saphyre.
But now their faces are very black:⁽⁸⁾ In so moch, that thou shuldest not knowe them in the stretes. Their skynne cleueth to their bones, It is wythered, and become like a drye stock.
They that be slayne with the swearde,⁽⁹⁾ are happier, then soch as dye of honger, and perishe awaye famishinge for the frutes of the felde.
The womē (which of nature are pitefull) haue sodden their owne children with their hondes: that they might be their meate,⁽¹⁰⁾ in yᵉ miserable destruccion of the doughter of my people.
The LORDE hath perfourmed his heuy wrath:⁽¹¹⁾ he hath poured out the furiousnes of his displeasure. He hath kindled a fyre in Sion, which hath consumed the foundacions therof.
Nether the kinges of the earth,⁽¹²⁾ ner all yᵉ inhabitours of the worlde, wolde haue beleued,[C] that the enemie & aduersary shulde haue come in at the gates of the cite of Ierusalē.
Which neuertheles is come to passe for yᵉ synnes of hir prophetes,⁽¹³⁾ and for the wickednes of hir prestes, that haue shed innocentes bloude within her.
So that these blynde men wēte stomblinge in the stretes,⁽¹⁴⁾ and stayned themselues wᵗ bloude, which els wolde touche no bloudy cloth.
But they cried vnto euery mā:⁽¹⁵⁾ fle the staynynge, awaye, get you hēce, touch it not. Yee (sayde they) ye must be brent, ye must dwell amonge the Gentiles, & byde no longer here.
The countenaunce of the LORDE hath banyshed them,⁽¹⁶⁾ & shal neuer loke more vpon them: For they them selues nether regarded the prestes, nor pitied their elders.
⁽¹⁷⁾Wherfore yet oure eyes fayle vs, whyle [D] we loke for vayne helpe: seynge we be euer waitynge vpon a people, that can do vs no good,
⁽¹⁸⁾They laye so sharpe waite for vs, that we can not go safe vpon the stretes: for oure ende is come, oure dayes are fulfilled, oure ende is here.
⁽¹⁹⁾Oure persecuters are swifter then the Aegles of the ayre: they folowed vpon vs ouer the mountaynes, and layed wait for vs in yᵉ wildernesse.
⁽²⁰⁾The very breth of oure mouth: euen the anoynted LORDE himself shalbe takē in oure synnes, of whom we saye: Vnder his shadowe we shal be preserued amonge the Heithen.
⁽²¹⁾And thou (O doughter Edom) that dwellest in the londe of Hus, be glad and reioyce: for the cuppe shal come vnto the also, which whē thou suppest of, thou shalt be dronckē.
⁽²²⁾Thy synne is wel punished (O thou doughter Sion) he shall not suffre the to be caried awaye eny more. But thy wickednesse (O doughter Edom) shall he vyset, and for thy synnes sake, he shal lede the in to captiuyte.
Notes to Chapter 4
⁽¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽¹¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽¹²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹³⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁴⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁵⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁶⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁷⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁸⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽¹⁹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²⁰⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ⟨illegible⟩
⁽²¹⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
⁽²²⁾ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
Chapter 5
[A] CAll to remēbraunce (O LORDE) what we haue suffred, cōsidre and se oure cōfucion. Oure enheritaunce is turned to the straungers, & oure houses to the aleauntes. We are become carefull and fatherlesse, and oure mothers are as the wydowes. We are fayne to drynke oure owne water for moneye, and oure owne wod must we bye with moneye. Oure neckes are vnder persecucion, we are weery, and haue no rest.
Afore tyme we yelded oure selues to the Egipcians, and now to the Assirians, only that we might haue bred ynough. Oure fathers (which now are gone) haue synned,⁽¹⁾ & we must beare their wickednesse. Seruauntes haue the rule of vs, and no man delyuereth vs out of their hōdes. We must get oʳ lyuynge with the parell of oure lyues, because of the drouth of the wildernesse.
[B] Oure skynne is as it had bene brent in an ouen, for very sore honger. The wyues are raueshed in Sion, & the maydens in the cities of Iuda. The prynces are hanged vp with the honde of the enemies, they haue not spared the olde sage men, they haue taken yonge mens lyues from them, and the boyes are hanged vp vpon trees. The elders syt no more vnder the gates, and the yonge men vse no more playenge of Musick. The ioye of oure herte is gone, oure mery quere is turned in to mourninge. The garlande of oure heade is fallen: alas, that euer we synned so sore.
Therfore oure hert is full of heuynesse, & oure eyes dymme: because of yᵉ hill of Sion that is destroyed, In so moch, that the foxes runne vpon it. But thou (O LORDE) that remaynest for euermore, and thy feate worlde with out ende: Wherfore wilt thou still forget vs, and forsake vs so longe? O LORDE: Turne thou vs vnto the, & so shal we be turned. Renue oʳ daies as in olde tyme,⁽²⁾ for thou hast now banished vs longe ynough, and bene sore displeased at vs.
Notes to Chapter 5
⁽¹⁾ ⟨illegible⟩ 31. e ⟨illegible⟩. 18. a
⁽²⁾ Iere. 31. e
The ende of the Lamentacions of Ieremy.
Colophon
This page is an archival transcription of the printed text, not a Good Works Translation. Source: Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe (M.D.XXXV; STC 2063.3), translated by Myles Coverdale, the copy in Cambridge University Library, keyed and encoded by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP Phase I, text A10349, 2005) and released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 public-domain dedication.
5 places illegible in the Cambridge copy were filled from Samuel Bagster’s 1838 page-for-page reprint of the edition (archive.org, holyscriptures00cove), only where the reprint’s reading is certain; each fill is listed on this room’s Supplied Readings page; 19 places are still marked ⟨illegible⟩ (1 in the text, 18 in the marginal notes); 130 characters in Hebrew or other non-Latin letters were not transcribed by TCP and are marked ⟨non-Latin script⟩.
🌲