rd

Lamentations 1

2 The Prophet bewaileth the miserable estate of Jerusalém, 5 And sheweth that they are plagued because of their sins. The first and second chapter begin every Verse according to the letters of the Ebrewe Alphabet. The third hath three Verses for every letter, and the fourth is as the first.
1.How doeth athe city remain solitarie that was full of people? she is as a widdow: she that was great among the nations and bprincess among the provinces, is made tributarie.
2.She wepeth continually in the cnight, and her tears run down by her chekes: among all her dlovers, she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt unfaithfully with her, & are her enemies.
3.Judáh is carried away captive, because eof affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, and findeth no rest: all her persecutors took her in the streets.
4.The ways of Zión lament, because no man cometh fto the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her Priests sigh: her virgins are discomforted, and she is in ^heaviness.
5.Her advesaries gare the chief, and her enemies prosper: for the Lord hath afflicted her, for the multitude of her transgressions, and her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6.And from the daughter of Zión all her beauty is departed: her princes are become hlike harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
7.Jerusalém remembered the days of her affliction, and of her rebellion, and all her peasant things, that she had in times past, when her people ifell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, & did mock at her kSabbaths.
8.Jerusalém hath grievously sinned, therefore she is ^in derision: all that honoured her, despise her, because they have seen her filthiness: yea, she sigheth and turneth backward.
9.lHer filthiness is in her skirts: she remembered not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter: ô Lord, behold mine affliction: for the enemy ^is proud.
10.The enemy hath stretched out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen the heathen enter into her Sanctuary, whom mthou didest command, that they should not enter into thy Church.
11.All her people sigh and seek their bread: they have given their pleasant things for meat to refresh the soul: see, ô Lord, and consider: for I am become vile.
12.Have ye no regard, all ye that pass by this way? behold, and see, if there be any nsorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce wrath.
13.From above hath ohe sent fire into my bones, which prevail against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, and turned me back: he hath made me desolate, and daily in heaviness.
14.The pyoke of my transgressions is bound upon his hand: they are wrapped, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall: the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, neither am I able to rise up.
15.The Lord hath trodden under foot all my valiant men in the middes of me: he that called an assembly against me to destroy my young men: the Lord hath trodden qthe wine press upon the virgin the daughter of Judáh.
16.*For these things I weep: mine eye, even mine eye casteth out water, because the comforter that should refresh my soul, is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
17.Zión stretcheth out her hands, & there is none to comfort her: the Lord hath appointed the enemies of Jaakób round about him: Jerusalém is ras a menstruous woman in the middes of them.
18.The Lord is righteous: for I have rebelled against his ^commandments: hear, I pray you, all people and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
19.I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my Priests and mine Elders perished in the city while they ssought their meat to refresh their souls.
20.Behold, ô Lord, how I am troubled: my bowels swell: mine heart is turned within me, for I am full of heaviness: the sword spoileth abroad, and death doeth at home.
21.They have heard that I mourn, but there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble, and are glad, that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day, that thou hast pronounced, and they shalbe like unto me.
22.tLet all their wickedness come before thee: ^do unto them, as thou hast done unto me, for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and mine heart is heavy.

Notes

1-a.
The Prophet wonders at the great judgement of God seeing Jerusalem, which was so strong and so full of people, to be now destroyed and desolate.
1-b.
Which had chief rule over many provinces and countries.
2-c.
So that she takes no rest.
2-d.
Meaning, the Egyptians and Assyrians, which promised help.
3-e.
For her cruelty toward the poor & oppression of servants, Jer. 34.11.
4-^.
Ebr., bitterness.
4-f.
As they used to come up, with mirth and joy, Ps. 42.4.
5-g.
That is: have rule over her, Deu. 28.44.
6-h.
As men pined away with sorrow and that have no courage.
7-i.
In her misery she considered the great benefits and commodities that she had lost.
7-k.
At her religion and serving of God, which was the greatest grief to the godly.
8-^.
Or, driven away.
9-^.
Ebr., hath magnified himself.
9-l.
She is not ashamed of her sin, although it be manifest.
10-m.
God forbade that the Ammonites and Moabites should enter into the Congregation of the Lord, and under them he comprehends all enemies, Deu. 23.3.
12-n.
Thus Jerusalem lamented, moving others to pity her and to learn by her example.
13-o.
This declares that we should acknowledge God to be the author of all our afflictions, to the intent that we might seek unto him for remedy.
14-p.
My heavy sins are continually before his eyes, as he that ties a thing to his hand for a remembrance.
15-q.
He has trodden them under foot as they that tread grapes in the winepress.
16-*.
Jer. 14.17, ch. 2.18.
17-r.
Which because of her pollution was separate from her husband, Lev. 15.19, and was abhorred for the time.
18-^.
Ebr., mouth.
19-s.
That is, they died for hunger.
22-^.
Or, gather them like grapes.
22-t.
Of desiring vengeance against the enemy, read Jer. 11.20 & 18.21.