Lamentations 2:5-15

5 HE factus est Dominus velut inimicus praecipitavit Israhel praecipitavit omnia moenia eius dissipavit munitiones eius et replevit in filia Iuda humiliatum et humiliatam

6 VAV et dissipavit quasi hortum tentorium suum demolitus est tabernaculum suum oblivioni tradidit Dominus in Sion festivitatem et sabbatum et obprobrio in indignatione furoris sui regem et sacerdotem

7 ZAI reppulit Dominus altare suum maledixit sanctificationi suae tradidit in manu inimici muros turrium eius vocem dederunt in domo Domini sicut in die sollemni

8 HETH cogitavit Dominus dissipare murum filiae Sion tetendit funiculum suum et non avertit manum suam a perditione luxitque antemurale et murus pariter dissipatus est

9 TETH defixae sunt in terra portae eius perdidit et contrivit vectes eius regem eius et principes eius in gentibus non est lex et prophetae eius non invenerunt visionem a Domino

10 IOTH sederunt in terra conticuerunt senes filiae Sion consperserunt cinere capita sua accincti sunt ciliciis abiecerunt in terra capita sua virgines Hierusalem

11 CAPH defecerunt prae lacrimis oculi mei conturbata sunt viscera mea effusum est in terra iecur meum super contritione filiae populi mei cum deficeret parvulus et lactans in plateis oppidi

12 LAMED matribus suis dixerunt ubi est triticum et vinum cum deficerent quasi vulnerati in plateis civitatis cum exhalarent animas suas in sinu matrum suarum

13 MEM cui conparabo te vel cui adsimilabo te filia Hierusalem cui exaequabo te et consolabor te virgo filia Sion magna enim velut mare contritio tua quis medebitur tui

14 NUN prophetae tui viderunt tibi falsa et stulta nec aperiebant iniquitatem tuam ut te ad paenitentiam provocarent viderunt autem tibi adsumptiones falsas et eiectiones

15 SAMECH plauserunt super te manibus omnes transeuntes per viam sibilaverunt et moverunt caput suum super filiam Hierusalem haecine est urbs dicentes perfecti decoris gaudium universae terrae

Lamentations 2:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 2

This chapter contains another alphabet, in which the Prophet Jeremiah, or those he represents, lament the sad condition of Jerusalem; the destruction of the city and temple, and of all persons and things relative to them, and to its civil or church state; and that as being from the hand of the Lord himself, who is represented all along as the author thereof, because of their sins, La 2:1-9; and then the elders and virgins of Zion are represented as in great distress, and weeping for those desolations; which were very much owing to the false prophets, that had deceived them, La 2:10-14; and all this occasioned great rejoicing in the enemies of Zion, La 2:15-17; but sorrow of heart to Zion herself, who is called to weeping, La 2:18,19; and the chapter is concluded with an address to the Lord, to take this her sorrowful case into consideration, and show pity and compassion, La 2:20-22.