Poems, Poem 88
The Lamentations of Ieremy, for the moſt part according to Tremelius.
CHAP. I.
1
HOw ſits this citie, late moſt populous,
Thus ſolitary, and like a widdow thus?
Ampleſt of Nations, Queene of Provinces
She was, who now thus tributary is?
2
Still in the night ſhee weepes, and her teares fall
Downe by her cheekes along, and none of all
Her lovers comfort her; Perfidiouſly
Her friends have dealt, and now are enemie.
3
Unto great bondage, and afflictions
Juda is captive led; Thoſe nations
With whom ſhee dwells, no place of reſt afford,
In ſtreights ſhee meets her Perſecutors ſword.
4
Emptie are the gates of Sion, and her waies
Mourne, becauſe none come to her ſolemne dayes.
Her Prieſts doe groane, her maides are comfortleſſe,
And ſhee's unto her ſelfe a bitterneſſe.
5
Her foes are growne her head, and live at Peace,
Becauſe when her tranſgreſſions did increaſe,
The Lord ſtrooke her with ſadneſſe: Th'enemie
Doth drive her children to captivitie.
6
From Sions daughter is all beauty gone,
Like Harts, which ſeeke for Paſture, and find none,
Her Princes are, and now before the foe
Which ſtill purſues them, without ſtrength they go.
7
Now in their daies of Teares, Jeruſalem
(Her men ſlaine by the foe, none ſuccouring them)
Remembers what of old, ſhee eſteemed moſt,
Whiles her foes laugh at her, for what ſhe hath loſt.
8
Jeruſalem hath ſinn'd, therefore is ſhee
Remov'd, as women in uncleanneſſe bee;
Who honor'd, ſcorne her, for her foulneſſe they
Have ſeene, her ſelfe doth groane, and turne away.
9
Her foulneſſe in her skirts was ſeene, yet ſhe
Remembred not her end; Miraculouſly
Therefore ſhee fell, none comforting: Behold
O Lord my affliction, for the Foe growes bold.
10
Upon all things where her delight hath beene,
The foe hath ſtretch'd his hand, for ſhee hath ſeene
Heathen, whom thou command'ſt, ſhould not doe ſo,
Into her holy Sanctuary goe.
11
And all her people groane, and ſeeke for bread;
And they have given, only to be fed,
All precious things, wherein their pleaſure lay:
How cheape I'am growne, O Lord, behold, and weigh.
12
All this concernes not you, who paſſe by mee,
O ſee, and marke if any ſorrow bee
Like to my ſorrow, which Jehova hath
Done to mee in the day of his fierce wrath?
13
That fire, which by himſelfe is governed
He hath caſt from heaven on my bones, and ſpred
A net before my feet, and mee o'rthrowne,
And made me languiſh all the day alone.
14
His hand hath of my ſinnes framed a yoake
Which wreath'd, and caſt upon my neck, hath broke
My ſtrength. The Lord unto thoſe enemies
Hath given mee, from whence I cannot riſe.
15
He under foot hath troden in my ſight
My ſtrong men; He did company invite
To breake my young men, he the winepreſſe hath
Trod upon Juda's daughter in his wrath.
16
For theſe things doe I weepe, mine eye, mine eye
Caſts water out; For he which ſhould be nigh
To comfort mee, is now departed farre,
The foe prevailes, forlorne my children are.
17
There's none, though Sion do ſtretch out her hand
To comfort her, it is the Lords command
That Iacobs foes girt him. Ieruſalem
Is as an uncleane woman amongſt them.
18
But yet the Lord is juſt, and righteous ſtill,
I have rebell'd againſt his holy will;
O heare all people, and my ſorrow ſee,
My maides, my young men in captivitie.
19
I called for my lovers then, but they
Deceiv'd mee, and my Prieſts, and Elders lay
Dead in the citie; for they ſought for meat
Which ſhould refreſh their ſoules, they could not get.
20
Becauſe I am in ſtreights, Iehova ſee
My heart return'd, my bowells muddy bee,
Becauſe I have rebell'd ſo much, as faſt
The ſword without, as death within, doth waſt.
21
Of all which heare I mourne, none comforts mee,
My foes have heard my griefe, and glad they be,
That thou haſt done it; But thy promis'd day
Will come, when, as I ſuffer, ſo ſhall they.
22
Let all their wickedneſſe appeare to thee,
Doe unto them, as thou haſt done to mee,
For all my ſinnes: The ſighs which I have had
Are very many, and my heart is ſad.
CHAP. II.
1
HOw over Sions daughter hath God hung
His wraths thicke cloud? and from heaven hath flung,
To earth the beauty of Iſrael, and hath
Forgot his foot-ſtoole in the day of wrath?
2
The Lord unſparingly hath ſwallowed
All Jacobs dwellings, and demoliſhed
To ground the ſtrengths of Iuda, and prophan'd
The Princes of the Kingdome, and the land.
3
In heat of wrath, the horne of Iſrael hee
Hath cleane cut off, and leſt the enemie
Be hindred, his right hand he doth retire,
But is towards Iacob, All-devouring fire.
4
Like to an enemie he bent his bow,
His right hand was in poſture of a foe,
To kill what Sions daughter did deſire,
'Gainſt whom his wrath, he poured forth, like fire.
5
For like an enemie Iehova is,
Devouring Iſrael, and his Palaces,
Deſtroying holds, giving additions
To Iuda's daughters lamentations.
6
Like to a garden hedge he hath caſt downe
The place where was his congregation,
And Sions feaſts and ſabbaths are forgot;
Her King, her Prieſt, his wrath regardeth not.
7
The Lord forſakes his Altar, and deteſts
His Sanctuary, and in the foes hands reſts
Palace, and the walls, in which their cries
Are heard, as in the true ſolemnities.
8
The Lord hath caſt a line, ſo to confound
And levell Sions walls unto the ground,
He drawes not back his hand; which doth oreturne
The wall, and Rampart, which together mourne.
9
Their gates are ſunke into the ground, and hee
Hath broke the barre; their King and Princes bee
Amongſt the heathen, without law, nor there
Unto their Prophets doth the Lord appeare.
10
There Sions Elders on the ground are plac'd,
And ſilence keepe; Duſt on their heads they caſt,
In ſack cloth have they girt themſelves, and low
The Virgins towards ground, their heads do throw.
11
My bowells are growne muddy, and mine eyes
Are faint with weeping: and my liver lies
Pour'd out upon the ground, for miſerie
That ſucking children in the ſtreets doe die.
12
When they had cryed unto their Mothers, where
Shall we have bread, and drinke? they fainted there
And in the ſtreet like wounded perſons lay
Till 'twixt their mothers breaſts they went away.
13
Daughter Ieruſalem, Oh what may bee
A witneſſe, or compariſon for thee?
Sion, to caſe thee, what ſhall I name like thee?
Thy breach is like the ſea, what help can bee?
14
For, the vaine fooliſh things thy Prophets ſought,
Thee, thine iniquities they have not taught,
Which might diſturne thy bondage: but for thee
Falſe burthens, and falſe cauſes they would ſee.
15
The paſſengers doe clap their hands, and hiſſe
And wag their head at thee, and ſay, Is this
That citie, which ſo many men did call
Joy of the earth, and perfecteſt of all?
16
Thy foes doe gape upon thee, and they hiſſe,
And gnaſh their teeth, and ſay, Devoure wee this,
For this is certainly the day which wee
Expected, and which now we finde, and ſee.
17
The Lord hath done that which he purpoſed,
Fulfill'd his word of old determined;
He hath throwne downe, and not ſpar'd, and thy foe
Made glad above thee, and advanc'd him ſo.
18
But now, their hearts againſt the Lord do call,
Therefore, O walls of Sion, let teares fall
Downe like a river, day and night; take thee
No reſt, but let thine eye inceſſant be.
19
Ariſe, cry in the night, poure, for thy ſinnes,
Thy heart, like water, when the watch begins;
Lift up thy hands to God, leſt children dye,
Which, faint for hunger, in the ſtreets doe lye.
20
Behold O Lord, conſider unto whom
Thou haſt done this; what, ſhall the women come
To eate their children of a ſpanne? ſhall thy
Prophet and Prieſt be ſlaine in Sanctuary?
21
On ground in ſtreets, the yong and old do lye,
My virgins and yong men by ſword do dye;
Them in the day of thy wrath thou haſt ſlaine,
Nothing did thee from killing them containe.
22
As to a ſolemne feaſt, all whom I fear'd
Thou call'ſt about mee; when his wrath appear'd.
None did remaine or ſcape, for thoſe which I
Brought up, did periſh by mine enemie.
Chap. III.
1 I Am the man which have affliction ſeene,
Under the rod of Gods wrath having beene,
2 He hath led mee to darkneſſe, not to light,
3 And againſt mee all day, his hand doth fight.
4 Hee hath broke my bones, worne out my fleſh and skinne,
5 Built up againſt mee; and hath girt mee in
With hemlocke, and with labour; 6. and ſet mee
In darke, as they who dead for ever bee.
7 Hee hath hedg'd me leſt I ſcape, and added more
To my ſteele fetters, heavier then before,
When I crie out, he out ſhuts my prayer: 9 And hath
Stop'd with hewn ſtone my way, & turn'd my path.
10 And like a Lion hid in ſecrecie,
Or Beare which lyes in wait, he was to mee,
11 He ſtops my way, teares me, made deſolate,
12 And hee makes mee the marke he ſhooteth at.
13 Hee made the children of his quiver paſſe
Into my reines, 14 I with my people was
All the day long, a ſong and mockery.
15 Hee hath fill'd mee with bitterneſſe, and he
Hath made me drunke with wormewood. 16 He hath burſt
My teeth with ſtones, and covered mee with duſt;
17 And thus my Soule farre off from peace was ſet,
And my proſperity I did forget.
18 My ſtrength, my hope (unto my ſelfe Iſaid)
Which from the Lord ſhould come, is periſhed.
19 But when my mournings I do thinke upon,
My wormwood, hemlocke, and affliction,
20 My Soule is humbled in remembring this;
21 My heart conſiders, therefore, hope there is,
22 'Tis Gods great mercy we'are not utterly
Conſum'd, for his compaſſions do not die;
23 For every morning they renewed bee,
For great, O Lord, is thy fidelity.
24 The Lord is, ſaith my Soule, my portion,
And therefore in him will I hope alone.
25 The Lord is good to them, who on him relie,
And to the Soule that ſeeks him earneſtly.
26 It is both good to truſt, and to attend
(The Lords ſalvation) unto the end:
27'Tis good for one his yoake in youth to beare;
28 He ſits alone, and doth all ſpeech forbeare,
Becauſe he hath borne it. 29 And his mouth he layes
Deepe in the duſt, yet then in hope he ſtayes.
30 He gives his cheekes to whoſoever will
Strike him, and ſo he is reproched ſtill.
31 For, not for ever doth the Lord forſake,
32 But when he'hath ſtrucke with ſadnes, hee doth take
Compaſſion, as his mercy' is infinite;
33 Nor is it with his heart, that he doth ſmite,
34 That underfoot the priſoners ſtamped bee,
35 That a mans right the Judge himſelfe doth ſee
To be wrong from him. 36 That he ſubverted is
In his juſt cauſe; the Lord allowes not this:
37 Who then will ſay, that ought doth come to paſſe,
But that which by the Lord commanded was?
38 Both good and evill from his mouth proceeds;
39 Why then grieves any man for his miſdeeds?
40 Turne wee to God, by trying out our wayes;
41 To him in heaven, our hands with hearts upraiſe.
42 Wee have rebell'd, and falne away from thee,
Thou pardon'ſt not. 43 Uſeſt no clemencie;
Purſueſt us, kill'ſt us, covereſt us with wrath,
44 Cover'ſt thy ſelfe with clouds, that our prayer hath
No power to paſſe. 45 And thou haſt made us fall
As refuſe, and off-ſcouring to them all.
46 All our foes gape at us. 47, Feare and a ſnare
With ruine, and with waſte, upon us are.
48 With water rivers doth mine eye oreflow
For ruine of my peoples daughters ſo;
49 Mine eye doth drop downe teares inceſſantly,
50 Untill the Lord looke downe from heaven to ſee.
51 And for my city daughters ſake, mine eye
Doth breake mine heart. 52 Cauſles mine enemy;
Like a bird chac'd me. 53 In a dungeon
They have ſhut my life, and caſt me on a ſtone.
54 Waters flow'd o'r my head, then thought I, I am
Deſtroy'd; 55 I called Lord, upon thy name
Out of the pit. 56 And thou my voice didſt heare;
Oh from my ſigh, and crye, ſtop not thine eare.
57 Then when I call'd upon thee, thou drew'ſt nere
Unto mee, and ſaid'ſt unto mee, do not feare.
58 Thou Lord my Soules cauſe handled haſt, and thou
Reſcueſt my life. 59 O Lord do thou judge now,
Thou heardſt my wrong. 60 Their vengeance all they have wrought;
61 How they reproach'd, thou haſt heard, and what they thought,
62 What their lips uttered, which againſt me roſe,
And what was ever whiſper'd by my foes.
63 I am their ſong, whether they riſe or ſit,
64 Give them rewards Lord, for their working fit,
65 Sorrow of heart, thy curſe. 66 And with thy might
Follow, and from under heaven deſtroy them quite.
CAP. IV.
1 HOw is the gold become ſo dimme? How is
Pureſt and fineſt gold thus chang'd to this?
The ſtones which were ſtones of the Sanctuary,
Scattered in corners of each ſtreet do lye.
2 The pretious ſonnes of Sion, which ſhould bee
Valued at pureſt gold, how do wee ſee
Low rated now, as earthen Pitchers, ſtand,
Which are the worke of a poore Potters hand.
3 Even the Sea-calfes draw their breſts, and give
Sucke to their young; my peoples daughters live
By reaſon of the foes great cruelneſſe,
As do the Owles in the vaſt Wilderneſſe.
4 And when the ſucking child doth ſtrive to draw,
His tongue for thirſt cleaves to his upper jaw.
And when for bread the little children crye,
There is no man that doth them ſatisfie.
5 They which before were delicately fed,
Now in the ſtreets forlorne have periſhed,
And they which ever were in ſcarlet cloath'd,
Sit and embrace the dunghills which they loath'd.
6 The daughrers of my people have ſinned more,
Then did the towne of Sodome ſinne before;
Which being at once deſtroy'd, there did remaine
No hands amongſt them, to vexe them againe.
7 But heretofore purer her Nazarite
Was then the ſnow, and milke was not ſo white;
As carbuncles did their pure bodies ſhine,
And all their poliſh'dneſſe was Seraphine.
8 They are darker now then blacknes, none can know
Them by the face, as through the ſtreet they goe,
For now their skin doth cleave unto their bone,
And withered, is like to dry wood growne.
9 Better by ſword then famine 'tis to dye;
And better through pierc'd, then by penury,
10 Women by nature pitifull, have eate
Their children dreſt with their owne hand for meat.
11 Iehova here fully accompliſh'd hath
His indignation, and powr'd forth his wrath,
Kindled a fire in Sion, which hath power
To eate, and her foundations to devour.
12 Nor would the Kings of the earth, nor all which live
In the inhabitable world beleeve,
That any adverſary, any foe
Into Ieruſalem ſhould enter ſo;
13 For the Prieſts ſins, and Prophets, which have ſhed
Blood in the ſtreets, and the juſt murthered:
14 Which when thoſe men, whom they made blinde, did ſtray
Thorough the ſtreets, defiled by the way
With blood, the which impoſſible it was
Their garments ſhould ſcape touching, as they paſſe,
15 Would cry aloud, depart defiled men,
Depart, depart, and touch us not, and then
They fled, and ſtrayd, and with the Gentiles were,
Yet told their friends, they ſhould not long dwell; there.
16 For this they are ſcattered by Jehovahs face
VVho never will regard them more; No grace
Unto their old men ſhall the foe afford,
Nor, that they are Prieſts, redeeme them from the ſword.
17 And wee as yet, for all theſe miſeries
Deſiring our vaine helpe, conſume our eyes:
And ſuch a nation as cannot ſave,
VVe in deſire and ſpeculation have:
18 They hunt our ſteps, that in the ſtreets wee feare
To goe: our end is now approached neere,
Our dayes accompliſh'd are, this the laſt day,
Eagles of heaven are not ſo ſwift as they
19 VVhichWhich follow us, o'r mountaine tops they flye
At us, and for us in the deſart lye.
20 The annointed Lord, breath of our noſtrils, hee
Of whom we ſaid, under his ſhadow, wee
Shall with more eaſe under the Heathen dwell,
Into the pit which theſe men digged, fell
21 Rejoyce O Edoms daughter, joyfull bee
Thou which inhabitſt her, for unto thee
This cup ſhall paſſe, and thou with drunkenneſſe
Shalt fill thy ſelfe, and ſhew thy nakedneſſe.
22 And then they ſinnes O Sion, ſhall be ſpent,
The Lord will not leave thee in baniſhment.
Thy ſinnes O Edoms daughter, hee will ſee,
And for them, pay thee with captivitie.
CAP. V.
1 REmember, O Lord, what is fallen on us
See, and marke how we are reproached thus,
2 For unto ſtrangers our poſſeſſion
Is turn'd, our houſes unto Aliens gone,
3 Our mothers are become as widowes, wee
As Orphans all, and without fathers be;
4 Waters which are our owne, wee drunke, and pay,
And upon our owne wood a price they lay,
5 Our perſecutors on our necks do ſit,
They make us travaile, and not intermit,
6 We ſtretch our hands unto th'Egyptians
To get us bread; and to the Aſſyrians.
7 Our Fathers did theſe ſinnes, and are no more,
But wee do beare the ſinnes they did before.
8 They are but ſervants, which do rule us thus,
Yet from their hands none would deliver us.
9 With danger of our life our bread wee gat;
For in the wilderneſſe, the ſword did wait.
10 The tempeſts of this famine wee liv'd in,
Black as an Ocean colour'd had our kinne:
11 In Iudaes cities they the maids abus'd
By force, and ſo women in Sion us'd.
12 The Princes with their hands they hung; no grace
Nor honour gave they to the Elders face.
13 Unto the mill our yong men carried are,
And children fell under the wood they bare.
14 Elders, the gates; youth did their ſongs forbeare,
Gone was our joy; our dancings, mournings were.
15 Now is the crowne falne from our head; and woe
Be unto us, becauſe we'have ſinned ſo.
16 For this our hearts do languiſh, and for this
Over our eyes a cloudy dimneſſe is.
17 Becauſe mount Sion deſolate doth lye,
And foxes there do goe at libertie:
18 But thou O Lord art ever, and thy throne
From generation, to generation.
19 Why ſhould'ſt thou forget us eternally?
Or leave us thus long in this miſery?
20 Reſtore us Lord to thee, that ſo we may
Returne, and as of old, renew our day.
21 For oughteſt thou, O Lord, deſpiſe us thus
22 And to be utterly enrag'd at us?