le, in Hebrew
verses, beginning with different letters according to the order of the
Hebrew alphabet.

Lamentations Chapter 1

PREFACE: And it came to pass, after Israel was carried into captivity,
and Jerusalem was desolate, that Jeremias the prophet sat weeping, and
mourned with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and with a sorrowful mind,
sighing and moaning, he said:

And it came to pass, etc... This preface was not written by Jeremias,
but was added by the seventy interpreters, to give the reader to
understand upon what occasion the Lamentations were published.

1:1. Aleph. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how
is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow: the princes of
provinces made tributary!

1:2. Beth. Weeping, she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her
cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to
her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies.

1:3. Ghimel. Juda hath removed her dwelling place, because of her
affliction, and the greatness of her bondage; she hath dwelt among the
nations, and she hath found no rest; all her persecutors have taken her
in the midst of straits.

1:4. Daleth. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come to
the solemn feast: all her gates are broken down; her priests sigh; her
virgins are in affliction; and she is oppressed with bitterness. 1:5.
He. Her adversaries are become her lords; her enemies are enriched;
because the Lord hath spoken against her for the multitude of her
iniquities; her children are led into captivity, before the face of the
oppressor.

1:6. Vau. And from the daughter of Sion, all her beauty is departed; her
princes are become like rams that find no pastures; and they are gone
away without strength before the face of the pursuer.

1:7. Zain. Jerusalem hath remembered the days of her affliction, and
prevarication of all her desirable things which she had from the days of
old, when her people fell in the enemy's hand, and there was no helper;
the enemies have seen her, and have mocked at her sabbaths.

1:8. Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore is she become
unstable; all that honoured her, have despised her, because they have
seen her shame; but she sighed, and turned backward.

1:9. Teth. Her filthiness is on her feet, and she hath not remembered
her end; she is wonderfully cast down, not having a comforter: behold, O
Lord, my affliction,