The Bird in the Cage, Part 3 – Part 4
THE Lamentations OF JEREMIAH IN MEETER.
CHAP. I.
HOw doth the City ſit alone
that full of People was?
How is ſhe become a widdow?
ſhe that was great (alas!)
Among the Nations, and Princeſs
in Power and Glory
Among the Provinces; Is ſhe
become Tributary?
2
She weepth now ſore in the night,
and on her checks are teares:
She hath none for to comfort her,
among all her Lovers.
All her Friends have dealt treach'rouſly
with her, and now they are
Become her real Enemies,
ſhe could not them beware.
3
Judah is gone into Bondage,
becauſe of Affliction,
For their greatneſs of Servitude,
how ſad is dear Zion?
She dwelleth among the Heathen,
ſhe finds no reſt, but waits,
Her Perſecutors overtake
her between the ſore ſtraits.
4
The ways of Zion do mourn much,
becauſe none come of late,
Unto the ſolemn Feaſts: but all
her Gates are deſolate:
Her Prieſts do ſigh, her Virgins are
afflicted too, no leſs,
And ſhe, Jeruſalem her ſelf,
is in great bitterneſs.
5
Her Adverſaries are the chief,
her Enemies proſper,
Becauſe the Lord himſelf, for ſins,
hath ſo afflicted her:
For her many Tranſgreſſions,
into Captivity,
Her little children are now gone,
before the Enemy.
6
And from the Daughter of Zion,
all her beauty departs:
Her Princes have loſt their Courage,
and are become like Harts
That find no paſture any where
and they are gone fainty
Without ſtrength before the face of
the Purſuer they be.
7
Jeruſalem minded in the
days of her Affliction,
And of her Miſeries, all her
pleaſant things that are gone,
That ſhe had in the dayes of old,
when her People did fall
*Dutch Tranſt.By the hand of the Enemy,
and none help'd her at all,
The Adverſaries look on her,
and at her Sabbaths mock'd,
8
Jeruſalem ſin'd grievouſly,
therefore ſhe is remov'd:
All that did honour her before,
hate her, and not regard;
Becauſe they ſaw her nakedneſs:
ſhe ſighs and turns backward.
9
Her filthineſs is in her skirts,
ſhe her laſt end not minds;
Therefore ſhe came down wonderfully,
no comforter ſhe finds.
O Lord behold my affliction,
for the proud enemy
Againſt thee, and againſt me Lord
himſelf doth magnifie.
10
The adverſary hath ſpread out
his hand on all ſtrongly,
Her pleaſant things for ſhe hath ſeen
into the Sanctuary:
The heathen entred whom thou didſt
command that there ſhould none,
Of them at all enter into,
thy Congregation.
11
All her People do ſadly ſigh,
they ſeek bread but in vain,
They gave their pleaſant things for meat,
to bring their ſouls again.
See O Lord and conſider me,
for vile I yet remain.
12
Oh is it nothing unto you,
all ye that do paſſe by?
Behold and ſee if that there be
any ſorrow like my
Sorrow, which is done unto me,
wherewith the Lord now hath
Afflicted me, in the day of
his fierce anger, and wrath.
13
Fire from above, into my bones,
in juſtice he hath ſent,
And it prevaileth againſt them
by which my ſtrength is ſpent.
For my feet he hath ſpread a net,
he back hath turned me,
Yea, he hath made me deſolate,
and all the day fainty.
14
The yoke of my tranſgreſſions,
is bound by his own hand;
They are wreathed and are come up
on my neck as a band.
He hath made my ſtrength for to fail,
the Lord delivered me;
Into their hands, from whom I now
cannot riſe or get free.
15
The Lord hath trodden under foot
all my men once mighty,
And in the midſt of me he hath
called an aſſembly,
Aganſt me to cruſh my young men:
the Lord trod the Virgin
The comely daughter of Judah
in a wine-preſs for ſin.
16
For theſe things do I weep, mine eye,
mine eye pours water down,
Becauſe the Comforter that ſhould
relieve my Soul, and own,
Is far from me, and my children
are deſolate, you ſee,
Becauſe the Enemy hath ſo
prevailed over me.
17
Sad Zion ſpreadeth forth her hands,
to comfort her there's none:
The Lord commanded concerning
Jacob, and his Zion.
That his Enemies ſhould ſurround
him: yea Jeruſalem
Is as a menſtruous woman now
abiding among them.
18
The Lord is wonderful righteous,
for I rebelled have:
Againſt his juſt commandment
for all this he can ſave.
Hear I pray you all People then
and this my ſorrow ſee:
My maids, and my young men are gone,
into Captivity.
19
I called unto my Lovers,
but they deceived me,
My Prieſts, and my Elders gave up
the ghoſt in the City;
While they ſought their meat that their ſouls
therewith reliev'd might be.
20
Behold O Lord for I am in
grievous diſtreſs and woe,
My bowels are troubled mine heart
is turn'd within me too.
Becauſe I have moſt grievouſly
rebelled this is come,
Abroad the Sword bereaveth much,
there is like Death at home.
21
They my foes, have heard that I ſigh,
there's none to comfort me,
Yea all mine Enemies have heard,
of this my miſery.
They are glad that thou haſt done it,
thou yet the day wilt bring
That thou haſt call'd, and they ſhall be,
like unto me ſuffering
22
Let all their wickedneſs, O Lord,
in time come before thee:
And do unto them according
as thou haſt done to me;
Becauſe of all my tranſgreſſions,
committed againſt thee,
For my ſighs are many for ſins,
and my heart is fainty.
CHAP. II.
HOw hath the glorious Lord cover'd
the daughter of Zion,
With a thick cloud in his anger,
and from Heaven caſt down
Unto the earth, (the loweſt ſtate)
Iſraels whole beauty,
And forgot his foot-ſtool in the
day that he was angry?
2
The Lord hath ſwallowed up all the
inhabitants, well known,
Of Jacob and hath not piti'd;
in his wrath he threw down
The daughters of Judah's, ſtrong holds:
he brought down to the ground,
He hath polluted the kingdom
and her Princes once crownd.
3
In his fierce anger he cut off
Iſraels horn fully:
He hath drawn back his right hand from
before the enemy.
And he is grievouſly incenſ'd
againſt Jacob (with ire)
Which round about, ſorely devour'd
like to a flaming fire.
4
He alſo bent his mighty bow,
like as an enemy,
He likewiſe ſtood with his right hand
ev'n as an adverſary.
And ſlew all things that did appear
pleaſant unto the eye:
In Zions daughters tent like fire
he pour'd out his fury.
5
The Lord was as an enemy,
he Iſrael ſwallowed,
And all her ſtately Pallaces
he hath quite devoured.
He hath deſtroyed his ſtrong holds,
and hath increaſed in
The daughters of Judah's mourning
and ſorrow for her ſin.
6
And his Tabernacle away
he did take violently,
As a Garden he deſtroy'd his
places of Aſſembly:
The Lord caus'd Sabbaths and ſolemn
feaſts to ceaſe in Zion,
He hath deſpis'd the King and Prieſt
in his indignation.
7
The Lord hath caſt off his Altar
he loath'd his ſanctuary,
Her pallace wals, he gave up to
the hand of th' enemy,
And they in the houſe of the Lord
have lifted up a voice,
As in the ſolemn feaſting-days
appointed to rejoyce.
8
The Lord hath purpoſed alſo
the wall to undermine,
Of the dear daughter of Zion
he hath ſtretch'd out a line:
And he hath not withdrawn his hand
from cruel deſtroying
For he made rampart and walls mourn
they joyn in languiſhing.
9
Her gates are ſunk into the ground
her Bars are ſpoil'd and burſt,
Her King and her Princes carried
among the Gentiles curſt:
The Law is no more to be ſeen
her Prophets alſo find
No viſion nor Revelation
from the Lord, of his mind.
10
The Elders of Zions daughther
ſit on the ground ſilent;
They have caſt duſt upon their heads,
in great aſtoniſhment;
They have girded themſelves alſo,
with ſack-cloth they are found;
The Virgins of Jeruſalem
hang their heads to the ground.
11
Mine eyes do greatly fail with tears;
my bowels are troubled:
My liver (and my inward parts)
on the earth is poured:
For the breach of the Daughter of
my People in miſ'ry;
For the babes, and ſucklings ſwoon in,
the ſtreets of the City.
12
They ſay to their Mothers, where is
the Corn and Wine? (we die)
When they ſwoon'd as the wounded in
the ſtreets of the City.
When their precious ſoul was poured
and ſurrendred again,
Into their dear mothers boſom,
but all this was in vain.
13
What thing ſhall I at this time take
to teſtifie for thee?
Or, what thing ſhall I parallel
to thee in miſery,
O daughter of Jeruſalem?
what ſhall I (think upon)
Equal to thee that I may give
the conſolation?
O Virgin daughter of Zion,
for thy breach is very
Great, like the ſea, who can heal thee?
of this thy miſery.
14
Thy Prophets have beheld both vain
and fooliſh things for thee,
And they have not diſcovered,
thy great iniquity.
To turn away thy ſore bondage,
by bidding thee repent;
But ſaw for thee falſe burdens, and
cauſes of baniſhment.
15
All that paſſe by, do now at thee
clap their hands together,
They hiſs and wag their heads now at
Jeruſalem's daughter.
Saying, is this the City that
men call the perfection
Of beauty, the joy of the whole
earth? Is this that Zion?
16
All thine enemies have open'd
their mouths wide againſt thee;
They hiſſe and gnaſh the teeth, they ſay,
(and that triumphantly)
We have now ſwallowed her up quite,
this is the day ſurely
That we look'd for, we it have found,
we have ſeen it fully.
17
The Lord hath done what he deviſ'd,
and he hath fulfilled
His words, that in the daies of old,
himſelf had commanded:
He threw down, and hath not piti'd,
and cauſed thine Enemy to
Rejoyce o're thee, and he ſet up
the horn of this thy foe.
18
Their heart cried unto the Lord,
O wall of the Daughter
Of Zion; day and night, let tears
run down like a river.
Give thy ſelf, O Jeruſalem,
no reſt nor quietneſs,
Let not the apple of thine eyes
ceaſe, whilſt thy foes oppreſſe.
19
Ariſe and cry out in the night:
in the firſt watch (with grace)
Pour out thy heart like water now
before Jehovah's face.
O lift up thy hands towards him,
for the life of thy ſweet
Young children that for hunger faint,
in top of every ſtreet.
20
Behold O Lord, and conſider
to whom thou this haſt done:
Shall the woman eat their own fruit,
and babes of a ſpan-long?
Shail the Prieſt and Prophet be ſlain
in the Lords Sanctuary,
21
The young and old lie on the ground
in the ſtreets openly.
My Virgins and my young Men are
fallen by th' ſword ſadly:
Thou ſlew'ſt them in thy angry day,
thou kill'ſt without pitty.
22
Thou cal'ſt as in a ſolemn day
my terrours round about,
So that in the day of the Lord's
anger none ſcaped (out)
Nor remained: thoſe that I have
ſwadled and brought up, ſo,
Mine Enemy hath conſumed,
my ſin hath cauſed this woe.
CHAP. III.
the man that affliction ſaw
by the rod of his wrath:
Into darkneſs but not to light,
he led and brought me hath.
Surely againſt me he is turnd,
he turns his hand all day.
My fleſh and skin hath he made old
he brake my bones alway.
He built againſt me, and compaſs'd
with gall and travel me,
He ſet me in dark places, as
they that of old dead be.
He hedgd me round, I cannot ſcape:
he made my chain heavy,
He alſo ſhuts out my prayer,
when I do ſhout and cry.
With hew'n ſtones he incloſ'd my ways,
my paths he made un-ſtraight:
Like Bear or Lion ſecretly,
for me he lies in wait.
And he hath turn'd aſide my ways,
and in pieces pull'd me:
Yea he hath made me deſolate,
great is my miſery.
He bent his Bow, and ſet me as
a mark for the Arrow:
The Arrows of his Quiver he
made through my reigns to go.
I was a Scoffe and deriſion,
to all my own People,
Alſo their ſong all the day long
(this to my ſore trouble)
He fil'd me with bitterneſs, he
made me drunk, with wormwood,
He brake my teeth with gravel-ſtones,
with aſhes he me clad.
And thou haſt alſo removed
my ſoul far off from peace.
And I forgat proſperity
by this my bitterneſs.
And I ſaid my ſtrength and my hope
from the Lord is quite gone:
Minding the wormwood and the gall
in this my affliction.
My ſoul doth ſtill remember them,
and is humbled in me:
This I recall to mind, therefore
have I hope, Lord, in thee.
It is of the Lord's mercies that
we are not conſum'd quite,
Becauſe his compaſſions fail not,
we live ſtill in his ſight.
They are renew'd ev'ry morning,
great is thy†Faithfulneſs. The heb. word ſignifies alſo Truth truth in them;
The Lord's my portion, ſaith my ſoul,
therefore 'ile hope in him.
The Lord is good unto them that
wait for him patiently,
And good unto the ſoul that doth
ſeek him effectually.
It is good that a man ſhould both
hope, and wait quietly:
For the ſalvation of the Lord,
which unto his is *Pſal. 85.9.nigh.
It is good for a man that he,
the yoak in his youth bear;
He ſits alone and ſilence keeps,
for on him he bar't there:
He putteth his mouth in the duſt,
if perhaps hope may be;
He gives his cheeks to him that ſmites,
frl'd with reproach is he.
Nevertheleſs the Lord will not,
caſt off for ever ſuch,
But though he cauſe grief, yet will he
expreſs compaſſion much.
According to the multitude
of his mercies, often.
For he afflicts not willingly,
nor grieves the ſons of men.
To cruſh under his feet all the
poor priſoners of the world.
To turn aſide mans right before
the face of the high Lord.
To ſubvert a man in his cauſe,
the Lord doth not approve,
Who ſaith, and it comes to paſs, when
God wills it not above.
Out of the mouth of the moſt High,
proceeds not good and evil,
Why doth the living man complain?
man's plagu'd for being ſinful.
Let's ſearch, and try our ways and turn
back to the Lord, quickly.
Let's lift our hearts with hands to God
that's in the heavens high.
We have tranſgreſſed and rebel'd,
thou haſt not pardoned:
Thou haſt cover'd us with anger
and us perſecuted:
Yea, Jehovah thou haſt us ſlain,
and haſt not pittied.
Thou coveredſt thy ſelf with a cloud,
and our condition now,
Is ſuch that our prayers could not
unto thee Lord paſs throw.
Thou mad'ſt us as the off-ſcouring,
and refuſe among men:
All our enemies againſt us,
their mouths daily open.
Fear and a ſnare is come on us
diſtreſſe, and deſtruction:
Therefore with rivers of water,
mine eye ſtill runneth down,
For the daughter of my People,
moſt ſore deſtruction;
Mine eye drops down and ceaſeth not
without intermiſſion.
Till the Lord look down and behold.
my caſe from heaven high,
For th'daughters all of my city
my heart's mov'd by mine eye.
Mine enemies chaſed me ſore
like a bird cauſleſly,
In th' dungeon they cut of my life
and caſt a ſtone on me.
Waters flowed over mine head,
then I ſaid, I am gone,
I call'd upon thy Name, O Lord,
out of the low dungeon.
Thou heardſt my voice, hide not thine ear
at my breathing, my cry.
Thou dreweſt near, bid'ſt me not fear,
that day I call'd on thee.
My ſoul's cauſes, O Lord, thou plead'ſt
thou didſt my life redeem.
Judge thou my cauſe, O Lord, again,
for thou my wrong haſt ſeen.
Yea all their vengeance at all times
thou perfectly didſt ſee;
And their imaginations all,
wrongfully againſt me.
Thou haſt heard their reproach, O Lord,
all their†So in the Hebrew. thoughts 'gainſt me ſtill,
The lips of thoſe (my foes) that roſe
againſt me, to my ill.
Alſo their ungodly device
againſt me all the day,
At their down-ſitting and riſing,
I am their†So in the Hebrew. See in Job 30.9. the ſame word. ſong alway.
Render to them a recompence,
O Lord, according to
Their handy works, give them thy curſe
yea them hearty ſorrow.
Perſecute and deſtroy them in
anger from under*The thy
Glorious heavens, who onelyonly art
the Lord God Almighty.
CHAP. IV.
HOw is the gold now become dim!
How's the moſt fine gold chang'd!
In†So heb. th'head of ev'ryſtreet the ſtones
Of th'*Heb. ſanctity. Sanctuary out are pour'd.
2
The precious ſons of Zion like
to fine gold, how are they?
Eſteem'd as works of Pottets hands,
the prtchers made with clay!
3
Yea the†Heb. See Mal 1.3. Dragons draw out the breaſt,
they give ſuck to their young.
My Peoples daughters like fierce*Marg. owles
of deſarts is become.
4
The ſucking child's tongue cleaves to the
roof of his mouth for drought:
The*So Iſa. 3.4. babes ask bread, and no man doth
break it to them, though ſought.
5
They that delicately did feed,
in the ſtreets are des'late:
They that in ſcarlet were brought up,
dung-hils embrace of late.
6
For the puniſhment of the (ſin,
and of th') iniquity
Of the daughter of my People,
is greater in degree
Then the puniſhment of the ſin
of Sodom, that's orethrown
As in a moment, and no hand
ſtaid on her (falling down.)
7
Her Naz'rits were purer than ſnow,
than milk they were whiter:
Their bodies ruddier than rubies
their†Poliſhing. decking of Saphir.
8
Their viſage blacker is than cole:
not known in th' ſtreets of ſome,
Their withered skin cleaves to their bones
like a ſtick it's become.
9
The ſlain with the ſword, are better
than thoſe by hunger kill'd:
For theſe flow out, ſtruck through†So Hebr. with want
of the fruits of the field.
10
The pittiful womens own hands
ſod their own children dear,
They were their meat in the ſlaughter
of my Peoples daughter.
11
The Lord accompliſh'd his fury,
his fierce wrath out he pour'd,
He kindled fire in Zion, and
her foundations devour'd.
12
The kings of the earth, and all the
inhabitants below,
Would not have believed that the
adverſary, or foe;
And that the crule enemy,
ſhould (prevail over them)
Have forcibly entred into,
the gates of Jeruſ'lem.
13
For the ſins of her Prophets, and
her Prieſts iniquities,
That have ſhed the blood of the juſt
in midd'ſt her is this.
14
They†Heb. the ſame mov'd as blind men in the ſtreets
they have polluted, much,
Themſelves with blood, ſo that men could
not once their garments touch.
15
They cry'd unto them, depart ye,
for it is polluted;
Depart ye, depart ye, touch not
when away they had fled,
And wandred: they ſaid among
the heathen every where;
They ſhall no longer inhabit
nor ſojourn with us here.
16
The Lord's anger divided them,
hee'l them no more eſteem,
The Prieſts perſons they did not†favour prize,
nor th' Elders highly deem.
17
As for us, our eyes as yet fail'd,
for our vain help we have
Watch'd in watching, for a Nation
(which yet) could us not ſave.
18
They hunt our ſteps that we cannot
go in our ſtreets ſafely;
Our end is near, our days fulfil'd,
for our end's come quickly.
19
Our perſecutors ſwifter are
than th' Eagles of Heaven,
They purſu'd and laid wait for us,
on hills in deſart then.
20
The breath of our noſtrils is gone,
which refreſh'd our ſpirits;
The annointed of†Heb. Jehovah,
was taken in their pits.
Of whom we ſaid, and ſurely hop'd,
that under his ſhadow;
Among the heathen we ſhall live,
which hope is vaniſh'd now.
21
Rejoyce and be exceeding glad,
O daughter of Edom:
That dwelleſt in the land of Ʋz,
the cup alſo ſhall come,
And likewiſe paſs through unto thee,
and thou drunken ſhalt be,
And make thy ſelf naked, becauſe
of thine iniquity.
22
The puniſhment accompliſh'd is
of thine iniquity,
O thou ſad daughter of Zion,
he will no more carry
Thee away to captivity;
thy ſins he will viſit,
O daughter of Edom, he will
thy ſins diſcover yet.
CHAP. V.
O Lord,†Heb. ſignifies to remember or mind. mind what is come on us,
think on and ſee our ſhame,
Our portion is turn'd to ſtrangers
our houſes aliants claim.
We are orphans, and fatherleſs,
our mothers as widdows,
We drank our water for money,
our wood is ſold to us.
Our necks are under grievous
and ſore Perſecution:
Whe labour and we have no reſt
our ſtate Lord think upon.
We have through want given the hand
to the Egyptians,
And to be ſatisfi'd with bread
to the Aſſyrians.
Our fathers ſin'd and they are not,
and their†Iniquities. ſins born have we,
Servants rul'd or'e us: ther's none that
from their hand doth us free.
We gat our bread with the peril
of our lives, and no leſs,
Becauſe of the devouring ſword
of the dry wilderneſs.
Our skin was black like an oven,
through ſore famine likewiſe.
They raviſh'd th' women in Zion,
and maids in Judah's Cities.
Princes, once powerful, are now
by their hand up hanged;
The faces of our grave Elders
were no whit honoured.
They took the beautiful young men
to grind, to make them food,
And the children, through their weakneſs
did fall under the wood.
The Elders have ceaſ'd from the gates,
the youths from their†…ſick. playing,
The joy of our heart is now ceaſ'd,
our dance turn'd to mourning.
The Crown is fallen from our heads,
wo to us we did ſin.
For this our heart is faint, for theſe
things our eyes now are dim.
Becauſe the mountain of Zion,
which is now deſolate:
The cunning foxes upon it
do boldly walk of late.
Thou O Lord for ever, remain'ſt
like to thee there is none,
Thy throne from generation
to generation.
Wherefore doſt thou forget us Lord,
and that for evermore,
And us forſake†So Heb. & in the Margin for length of days,
this makes our ſuffering ſore.
Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord,
and we ſhall be turned:
Renew our days as thou of old
did'ſt, and haſt promiſed.
But thou, O Lord haſt utterly,
(we fear) rejected us.
Againſt us thou art very wroth,
yet juſtly thou deal'ſt thus.
A true CHRISTIANS PILGRIMAGE, Or, AFFLICTED-STATE: Setting forth Pathetically and Myſtically, a Saints Night and Day, or Sorrow and Joy; Moſt of it being A Viſion ſeen in Affliction, and profitable for Edification and Conſolation.
The flying Sun, the fading Shaddow,
The diſmal Night, the welcom Morrow.
O Glorious Sun that run'ſt with joy thy race!
And daily ſhewſt the world thy goodly face,
Shine forth upon my Dyal (tho but clay)
That I may rightly know the time of Day.
I thought it was ſcarce Noon, but now I ſee,
The ſhadows of the Evening covering me.
Alas! where have I been, what have I done?
Had I my back all this while on the Sun?
Or did I ſleep, or dream that all my year,
A Summer without Winter would appear?
Alas! my†Thoſe ſix Words ſignifie the Conſcience. Watch, Alarm and my Clock,
My mourning Dove, my Sentinel, and Cock.
Slept all at once, until that audibly
One ſaid, the King and all his Train paſt by.
Then ſtartling out of ſlumber I look'd out,
And ſaw his whirling Chariots fly about.
Ah thought I then! I muſt lurk in the ſhade,
Until the Worlds great light doth Retrograde.
Where am I now? on what ground do I ſtand?
I cannot ſee my right, from my left hand.
Is this a Hill, or Plain? is't Land, or Water?
Oh! whither ſhall I ſtep, or flee for ſhelter?
I am ſoon doted and quite at a loſs,
Already turn'd into my firſt Chaos.
Is there no hope of Light? Oh I ſee none!
Where are the[a]Angels. Pleiades and Orion?
Are all God's ſparkling[b]Scriptures. Diamonds divine
So clad with clouds that none of them do ſhine?
I ſee not one about this Canopy,
Sad ſoul how faſt comes on thy miſery!
But where art thou fair[c]Church. Moon, wilt thou appear?
O[d]True Chriſtian. hearb of Grace, lo here, but ne'r the near.
Where is thy light, O help if ever now,
Ah I cannot! for the*Which is the cauſe of the Moons Eclipſe. earths thick ſhadow
Hath interpoſed ſo between me, and thee,
I am eclipſ'd, look for no light from me.
End of the text · Vavasor Powell, The Bird in the Cage (1661)