Lamentations 2

1 ALEPH quomodo obtexit caligine in furore suo Dominus filiam Sion proiecit de caelo terram inclitam Israhel et non recordatus est scabilli pedum suorum in die furoris sui

2 BETH praecipitavit Dominus nec pepercit omnia speciosa Iacob destruxit in furore suo munitiones virginis Iuda deiecit in terram polluit regnum et principes eius

3 GIMEL confregit in ira furoris omne cornu Israhel avertit retrorsum dexteram suam a facie inimici et succendit in Iacob quasi ignem flammae devorantis in gyro

4 DELETH tetendit arcum suum quasi inimicus firmavit dexteram suam quasi hostis et occidit omne quod pulchrum erat visu in tabernaculo filiae Sion effudit quasi ignem indignationem suam

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

16 FE aperuerunt super te os suum omnes inimici tui sibilaverunt et fremuerunt dentibus dixerunt devoravimus en ista est dies quam expectabamus invenimus vidimus

17 AIN fecit Dominus quae cogitavit conplevit sermonem suum quem praeceperat a diebus antiquis destruxit et non pepercit et laetificavit super te inimicum et exaltavit cornu hostium tuorum

18 SADE clamavit cor eorum ad Dominum super muros filiae Sion deduc quasi torrentem lacrimas per diem et per noctem non des requiem tibi neque taceat pupilla oculi tui

19 COPH consurge lauda in nocte in principio vigiliarum effunde sicut aqua cor tuum ante conspectum Domini leva ad eum manus tuas pro anima parvulorum tuorum qui defecerunt in fame in capite omnium conpetorum

20 RES vide Domine et considera quem vindemiaveris ita ergone comedent mulieres fructum suum parvulos ad mensuram palmae si occidetur in sanctuario Domini sacerdos et propheta

21 SEN iacuerunt in terra foris puer et senex virgines meae et iuvenes mei ceciderunt in gladio interfecisti in die furoris tui percussisti nec misertus es

22 THAU vocasti quasi ad diem sollemnem qui terrerent me de circuitu et non fuit in die furoris Domini qui effugeret et relinqueretur quos educavi et enutrivi inimicus meus consumpsit eos

Lamentations 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

Lamentation for the misery of Jerusalem.

Verses 1-9 A sad representation is here made of the state of God's church, of Jacob and Israel; but the notice seems mostly to refer to the hand of the Lord in their calamities. Yet God is not an enemy to his people, when he is angry with them and corrects them. And gates and bars stand in no stead when God withdraws his protection. It is just with God to cast down those by judgments, who debase themselves by sin; and to deprive those of the benefit and comfort of sabbaths and ordinances, who have not duly valued nor observed them. What should they do with Bibles, who make no improvement of them? Those who misuse God's prophets, justly lose them. It becomes necessary, though painful, to turn the thoughts of the afflicted to the hand of God lifted up against them, and to their sins as the source of their miseries.

Verses 10-22 Causes for lamentation are described. Multitudes perished by famine. Even little children were slain by their mother's hands, and eaten, according to the threatening, ( Deuteronomy 28:53 ) . Multitudes fell by the sword. Their false prophets deceived them. And their neighbours laughed at them. It is a great sin to jest at others' miseries, and adds much affliction to the afflicted. Their enemies triumphed over them. The enemies of the church are apt to take its shocks for its ruins; but they will find themselves deceived. Calls to lamentation are given; and comforts for the cure of these lamentations are sought. Prayer is a salve for every sore, even the sorest; a remedy for every malady, even the most grievous. Our business in prayer is to refer our case to the Lord, and leave it with him. His will be done. Let us fear God, and walk humbly before him, and take heed lest we fall.

Chapter Summary

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.