The Lamentationes of Ieremy, translated vvith great care of his Hebrevv elegancie, and oratorious speaches: vvherin his sixfold alphabet stirreth all to attention, of Gods ordered providence in kingdomes confusion. VVith explicationes from other scriptures, touching his story & phrases. By Hugh Broughton

THE LAMENTATIONS OF IEREMY .

Aleph . 1 HOw is the city dwelt solitary which was full of people ; She is become a very widdow . The great among nations , the prince among countreys is become a a Iehoiakim was caryed to Babel , in the first of Nabu : & Daniel , Ananias , Misael , & Azaria● with other yong nobles . Da. 1. And Iehoiakim was suffred to returne to his Kingdome : being made a servant tributarie to the King of Babel . tributary .

Beth. 2 She weepeth sore all the b b Affliction is night . as Es. 21. Three yeares Iehoiakim served the K. of Babel . That time was night : Three yeres he was vexed with forces of Chaldeans Syrians Moabites Ammonites . And that was a darker night . night : Her teares trickle vpon her cheeks : She hath no comforter of all her Lovers : all her c c Egypt and Tyrus & other near nations , which afterwards resisted Babel 35. yeres . yet they left Ierusalem to be taken of Nabuchadnezar after a small siege . friends deale vnfaithfully with her : They are become her enemies .

Gimel . 3. Iudah d d In th' eight of Nab : with K. Iechonias & Mardochai then a childe , & Ezekiel , & many who then saw Salomons temple , & Lived till Aggei asked them , of it & Zorobabels ▪ Ag. 2. And many thousands : all saving the poore . And againe when the remnant is captived , after full bondage & sorow . Besides in the Booke of Ester Letters went into 127 countreyes against the Iewes , & againe for them . And the Chaldean scattered them not : wherfore we must vnderstand that many beleeving their conntrey should become vnder Babel fled into other coutreyes . And of them might they bee who made the synagoges in Corinth & Rome . leaveth countrey after affliction & much bondage . She dwelleth among the heathen : She findeth no rest : all that pursue her overtake her in the straites .

Daleth . 4. The wayes of Sion mourne , because none come to the feastes : all her gates be desolate ; her sacrificers e e They sighed not for killing the prophets but for the punishment . sigh : her virgines sorow , & she feeleth bitternes .

He. 5 Her aduersaries are the chief : her enemies prosper : because the Eternal hath made her sorowfull , for her great trespases : Her infants f f As Mardochai : who was actiue in Esthers dayes : Ester . 10. & was caried to Babel 62. yeres afore Babel fell . So he must liue 85. at the least ; though he were 〈…〉 ived , in his cradle . go to captivity , before the adversarie .

Chap. I.

Vau. 6 And from the g g All settled comon weales are called daughters in the Scripture ; as Daughter Babel , ps. 137. So Rome is pictured a woman Apo. 17 daughter Sion all her gayness is departed : her Princes are like hartes which finde no pasture , and goe voyd of all strength before the pursuer .

Zain . 7 Ierusalem remembreth in the dayes of her affliction and vexation , all the pretious thinges that she had in the old time : when the People hath fallen by the hand of the Enemy : and she hath no helper : her adversaries behold her , & Laugh at her h h This prophecieth how in Babel they will mourne for desire vnto their feastes : which in their Land they would not keep aright And the Chaldeans will skoph their Sabbatismes , as did long after Horace , Ovid , and other Poets . & Tully too : Deserving to haue his head cut off and his tongue pricked , as he had . The ps. 137. commenteth vpon this verse . Sabbatismes .

Cheth . 8 Ierusalem hath sinned grevously : therfore came she into i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nydah . Such vncertainty of place as Cain had Gen. 4. wandring from place to place . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 expresseth of purpose this word , 1 Cor. 4. 11. dispersion : all that honoured her contemne her : because they haue seene her shame : also she sigheth & turneth her self backwardes .

Teth. 9 Her k k Ier. Ch. 2. handleth this at large . The trope meaneth Idolatry . vncleanes is vpon her skirtes . She remembreth not l l Deu. 32. O that they were wise , & would remember their last end . Moses spake of this age . her last end : How she is wonderfully brought downe , she hath no comforter . O Eternal see my affliction : because the enemy is mightie .

Iod. 10 The aduersary layeth his hand vpon all her m m 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apoc. 18. pretious thinges : when she seeth the nations come into her temple : of whome thou hast commaunded : They should not come into thy n n That is : They shall beare no office in thy comon weale . they are Ammonites and Moabites . Deut. 23. 3. they come now even into the Temple where onely the Levites should come . congregation .

Caph. 11 All her People sigh , seeking for bread : they give theyr pretious thinges for o o This speach is a prophecie of the famine that should befall the city , in the last siege : which began in the ninth of Sedekias . Then Nab ; compassed the city with siege , vntil the Eleventh yere ; when the famine was exceeding great , & the People of the Land had no meat . 2. K. 25. 1. Though two captiuities were past , & none were left but a remnant of poore , & Ezekiel in captivity prophecyed that Sedekias and his companie should come after the former , & Ieremie still in Ierusalem commented in Sermons vpon his Lamentations , all this moved not Sedekias & his nobles . For they knew not the Kingdome of Christ : that it was for the world to come ; & knew that an Eternall throne was promised vnto David . 2. Sam. 7. & 1. Chro. 17. So still they made their belly their God . Phil. 3. And to this day the Thalmudiques say ; in R. Moses Ben Mamony Tom. 1. tractat . Poenitentia : Perek or section . 9. All the good thinges which the prophets prophecied vnto Israel : they are onely body thinges , wherein the body shal be benefited in the dayes of Messias ; when the Kingdome shal be restored to Israel . Moses foretold Deut. 32. that when they became fat , grosse , and burly , they would forget God that made them , & contemne the rock of their Saluation . And Esay Ch. 6. recordeth that to haue come to passe : & Rambam tract . poenit . recordeth the sinne there to be sin against the holy Ghost : wherein God would never give repentance . As they could not repent : to give ever at the siege : but they dreamed still that Egypt would help ; but Ieremy Lamenteth that their folly : So for the second destruction , they beleeved not the Angel Dan. 9. that telleth againe and againe that their city should haue a final destruction . But when S. Stephen , act. 6 & 7. told the same , & had in his faco like the Angels brightnes , they stopped their eares : & would neither hear nor see . And who would haue thought that Saraias the high Sacrificer , & father of good Esra should conspire with the rest to damne Ieremy for a false prophet , because he told of Ruine to the temple , & implements : & of the New Testament . But man sold into sin cannot see , where God openeth not the eyes . And here the spirit teacheth the Godly to grone with sighinges vnspeakable . meat to keep in life . See ô Eternall , & consider how contemptible I am become .

Lamed . Daniell full of grace honoureth this verse ch. 9. thus : It hath not ben done vnder all the heaven as it hath bene done to Ierusalem . 12 This hath not befallen you , ô all that passe by the way . Consider yee , & see yf ther be any sadnes like my sadnes , which is caused vnto me ; where the Eternall hath caused sorow , in the day of his hoat anger .

Mem. 13 From an high he hath sent fier into my p p The cities of Iuda brent by the Chaldeans . bones , and made it prevaile : he hath spread a net to my feet : he hath turned me backward , he hath made me desolate , sick , all the day .

Nun. 14 The q q The yoke of the Law was given to teach how sinne abounded . So seing they humbled not themselves before God , to walk better in his holy covenant , all the curses written in the Lawes of Moses came vpon them : when from the yoke of the Law , which these fathers could not bear , they yoke of their trespasses galled the neck . When Dan. Ch. 9. confessed this much : the angel Gabriel teacheth him of the easie yoke of Christ , named so : Math. xj . And that oration of the Angel Gabriel is no lesse to the old Testament then the sun is to the sky . yoke of my trespasses hath made an impression by his hand : they plat r r 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . s. Paul expoundeth this strange Ebrew with as strange Greek : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : Eb. 12. Sin that cunningly wrappeth about . And this he meaneth that the glorious wisdome of Moses Law , which standeth for the marrow , still , but not for the outward , Sabbat , circumcision Tabernacle , & other rites of Levy , this blinded them , who would not looke vnto Christ the end of the Law ; that God from the Law plagued them , & made the Law , held as their table , to be their trappe : Seing they would not enter into the rest of Christ : where baptisme , and the Lordes supper are no burden . S. Paul calling the Ebrewes being in the Errour of Sedekias times vnto Ieremies Lamentations , closly warneth by the former destruction , a second as a deluge : when the Apostles preaching hath had forty yeres as Ieremies when Sedekias & his went into the wildernes of the heathen . The Thalmudiques traditions to this day , are their sinnes , platting themselves as the boughes of a tree , or the Nerves of the Elephants coddes . Iob 40. 17. Whence Ieremy borowed his word , which S. Paul gaue to Gracia . themselves ; they go over my s s Neck signifieth as in Abak . , 3. the highest townes of state . when Iosuah conquered Chanaan . Such was Ierusalem to Ieremies dayes & S. Paules . neck ; he hath beaten downe my strength : The Lord hath given me into their handes before whome I cannot stand .

Samech . 15 The Lord hath troden downe all my t t When Nah: caryed away all the men of warre , & all the nobles , & Iewellers , in his eight yere 2. K. 34. valiant , within me ; he hath called an u u When the Kings of the earth assisted Nab : to be siege Ierusalem ; Craaesus King of Lydia might well be one of them . Old Herodotus noteth his familiarity with the King of Babel . God would haue Kings to know Ierusalems fall by Babel , that when they should hear of Babels house of Nemrod fallen , by Iapheth and Sem , & proclamation to send home the Iewes by subsidy of 120 nations ; they might listen when God in Christ would pity the world for that liberality to his people . assembly against me , to breake my yonge men ; the Lord hath troden the winepresse , to the virgin daughter Iudah .

Ain . 16 Therfore do I weepe ; mine eye mine ey gussheth out of water ; for conforter is far from me , that should keep in my life ; my children are desolate because the enemy is the stronger .

Pe. 17 Sion spreadeth the handes , she findeth no comforter ; The Eternall hath given charge concerning Iacob , to his enemies round about him ; Ierusalem is become a menstruous woman among them .

Sade . 18 The x x Dan. Ch. 9. expreseth this whole sentence . Eternall is iust . For I haue rebelled against his mouth . Heare now all ye people & see my sadnes . My virgins & my yong men are gone into captivity .

Coph . 19 I called vpon my y y Egyptians , Ezek. 29. resisted Babel , as well as Iuda : But promising help they durst not performe it . As in many places Ezekiel telleth , 30. & 31. & moo . Also though wee have no record of confederacy betwixt Iudah & other Enemies to Babel , reason telleth that all of one danger at the first , ioyned League : These were confederate with Egypt , Ezek. 30. Cush , Put & Lud , & all Arabia , & Cub or Barbaria . These , as haters of Ierusalem partly for feare of Nabuchadnezars greatnes , partly of hatred to Gods trueth , for sake Ierusalem , while Nab : besiegeth Sedekias : Ezekiel Ch. 29. & 30. prophecieth against them . Lovers ; & they haue deceaved me ; My sacrificers & my Elders yeeld vp the ghost in the citie , when they seeke them meat to keepe in their life .

Resh . 20 See ô Eternall how I am in distresse . My bowels are z z Iob. 16. 16. disquieted , & my hart is turned within me , because I have stubburnelie rebelled . a a Deu. 32. They shal be brent with hunger & eaten vp with burning , & bitter destruction . without , the sword shall robbe : within shal be fear . S. Paul 2. Cor. 7. 5. calleth Moses & Ieremy both into minde : saying : when we came into Macedonia my flesh had no rest : we were alwayes in distresse , without was fighting , within was feare : Thus divinely honoureth he the songes of Moses and Ieremy : as having tbeir wordes still before him , ioyning Moses prophecy with Ieremyes story : & shewing how the Apostles were vexed in the world , as Ierusalem of the Chaldeans . Without the sword doth robbe , within is death it self .

Schin . 21 They have heard how I sigh , having no comforter ; all my enemies haue heard my evel ; b b Namely Tyrus , reproved of Ezechiel for ioyance at the fall of ●erusalem : which Tyrus is there told of ruine . Many yeares it was besieged of Nab : & taken at the last . Other nations vntaken yet , but told Ier. 25. that they should serve Babel , they also hated Iudah ; concerning whome this prophecy is vttered . they reioyce at thy doing . Thou bringest a day which thou hast proclaymed , that b b Namely Tyrus , reproved of Ezechiel for ioyance at the fall of ●erusalem : which Tyrus is there told of ruine . Many yeares it was besieged of Nab : & taken at the last . Other nations vntaken yet , but told Ier. 25. that they should serve Babel , they also hated Iudah ; concerning whome this prophecy is vttered . they shal be as I am .

Tau. 22 Let all c c The first Alphabet row is ended in the prophecy of ending the wicked Kingdomes which should be brought vnder Babels yoke : to shew that all these troubles are in Gods providence setled in most exquisite order for his iudgments . their evell come before thee ; and do vnto them as thou hast done vnto me for all my trespasses . For my sighings be many & my hart is sick .

Chap. 2.

Aleph . 1 HOw hath the d d Foure Hebrew names of God are onely vsed in this book : Iehovah , the Eternal , in ech Chapter : & is accompanied with Adonaj : Abrahams stay , with a note of trinity : ( Gen. 15. ) Lam. Ch. 1. 2 , 3. And in the third also , with El: Mighty , & once in a most fit argument ; & with 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 The most HIGH , twise ; wherin Ieremy complayneth against the high states of Iudah , vnto one whome they felt higher & mightier . In the fourth and fift , Iehovah : Performer of promise from Eternall purpose , onely is vsed Elohim the exact mighty iudge , only vsed Gen. 1. & elswhere most vsuall in story , is not at all in this book : where the prophet sheweth how God in will remember mercy ▪ to make the Iewes in Babell a golden state : & not enter into iudgement to consume them . A translater , vnmindefull of fit English for ech , will blinde his reader . Lord beclouded in his anger the daughter Sion ; he hath cast downe from heaven to the earth the fayreness of Israel : and remembreth not his footstoole in the day of his anger .

Beth. 2 The Lord hath e e Eb. swallowed , & vsed as here , Iob. 2. overwhelmed , nothing sparing , all the dwellings of Iacob : he hath f f Deut. 28. & Amos terme of Davids tabernacle Ch. 9. is here . broken downe in his wrath the fortes of the daughter Iudah : He hath g g Es. 25. brought vnto the ground , He hath made h h Ps. 89. where the whole psalme handleth this matter : that Salomons kingdome was but vanitie : & that of Messias is in heaven . a riddance of the kingdome , & of the Princes .

Gimel . 3 He hath broken in his hoat anger all the i i Ps. 75 , 12. horne of Israel : He hath turned back his right k k Ps. 89. hand from the enemy : and he hath kindled l l Deut. 33. in Iacob a flaming fier which eateth vp round about .

Daleth . 4 He hath bent his bow as an enemy : he hath settled his right hand as an adversarie : he hath killed all the pleasant to the eye , in the tent of the daughter Sion : he hath powred out his heath as fier .

Heh. 5 The Lord is become a very enemy : he hath overwhelmed Israel , he hath overwhelmed all m m 2. K. 25. her palaces : he hath marred all n n Deut. 28. her fortes : & he hath multiplyed , in the daughter Iudah , o o Esay 29. hath the same strange Ebrew for this matter . heavines vpon heavines .

Vau. 6 And he hath pluck vp his p p Ps. 76. 3. The Temple , & so in the Chaldy here . pavilion as a garden : he hath put downe his feastes : the Lord hath caused in Sion feast and Sabbath to be forgotten , & he hath lothed in the indignation of his anger , q q This was the maine point whervpon Koheleth wrote that all things vnder the Sun were vain . And for this the Atheist Ioakim brent the Lamentations : whervpon God told he should have the buriall of an asse : & that none of his seed should sit vpon Davids throne : & expresly that Iechonias should dy childelesse . As to this houre our Learned over Europe cannot beleeve Ieremy 22. & s. Luc. 3. for that , so in Ieremyes dayes men could hardly beleeve this : & for this the Sacrificers condemned Ieremy too . So hard a matter it is to despise the world : & to looke to the Kingdome of heaven . And further large commenting I shall not need . The learned in I brew vpon a warning may by mine examples search how still from other holy writers Ieremy fetcheth his phrases . King & Sacrificer .

Zain . 7 The Lord hath reiected his altar : he hath cast off his temple : he hath delivered into the hand of the Enemy the walles of her towres : they make a noise in the house of the Eternall as on a feast day .

Cheth . 8 The Lord purposed to destroy the wall of daughter Sion : he stretched the line ; he withdrew not his hand from over-whelming : both frontier and wall mourned : together they became of no strength .

Teth. 9 Her gates are sunck to the ground ; he hath marred & broken into shevers all her barres ; her King & her princes are among heathen that * * Ro. 2. haue no Law ; also her prophets find no vision from the Eternall .

Iod 10 The Elders of the daughter Sion sit on the ground , they be silent ; they cast vp dust vpon their head ; they put on sackcloth . The virgins of Ierusalem hang down their heades to the ground .

Caph. 11. Mine eyes are spent by teares ; my bowels are disquieted ; my liver is powred vpon the ground ; for the breach of the daughter of my people ; while infant & suckling faint in the streets of the of the towne .

Lamed . 12 To their mothers they say wher is * * Eb. corne . bread wine ; & when they faint as the slayn in the streates of the city ; when they powre out their soules in the bosome of their mothers .

Mem. 13 What testimony shall I bring for thee , what shall I liken to thee , ô daughter Ierusalem ? what shall I compare with thee , that I may confort thee , ô daughter virgin Sion ? For thy breach is great as the seas . Who can heale thee ;

Nun. 14 Thy prophets have looked out for thee thinges vaine , & which have lost the saltnes : they have not discovered thine iniquitie , to turne away thy captivity ; but they have looked out for thee , prophecies of dispersion .

Samech . 15 All that passe by the way clap their hands , they hisse & wagge theyr head at the daughter Ierusalem . Is this the city of which they said : * * ps. 48. the perfection of fayrnes , the ioy of all the earth ;

Phe. 16 All thy enemies gape with their mouth against thee : they hiss and gnash the teeth : they say , we haue devoured : this now is the day which we haue expected , we haue found , we haue seen .

Ain . 17 The Eternall hath done that which he purposed : he hath performed his word , as he ordeined of old time : he hath broken down , and nothing spared ▪ and he hath made the enemy to rejoyce over thee : he hath exalted the horne of thy adversaries .

Sade . 18 Their hart will cry vnto the Lord : O wall of daughter Sion , powre downe teares like a river day & night : take thee no rest : nor let the apple of thyne eye leaue off .

Koph . 19 * * Eb. Kumi 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Marc. 5. 41. Arise , break out on the night at the first watch : poure out thy hart like water before the face of the Lord : lift vp thyne handes vnto him for the life of thy children , which faint for hungre , in the corner of every streat .

Resh . Deut. 28. 20 See ô Eternall & behold with whome thou hast dealt thus . Should women eat theyr owne fruict ; infants that may be spanned ; should sacrificer & prophet be killed in the temple of the Lord ?

Schin 21 They lie in the streates , * * Deut. 32. on the ground , yong & old : my virgins & yong men fall by the sword : thou dost kill in the day of thyne anger ; thou dost make a slaughter ; thou doest nothing spare .

Tau. 22 Thou callest , as in a day of assembly , § § Ps. 31 14. Ier. 6. 25 20. 3. & 10 & 46. 5. & 49. 29. my feares from round about ; & there was in the day of the anger of the Eternall none escaped or remnant . Them , whome I could spanne , & brought vp , my enemy hath consumed .

Chap. 3.

Aleph . Ieremy telleth his own misery : after wicked Ioakim brent his Lamentations , and sought to kill him , & ●a●uc & he prophecieth how he shal be vsed by the Sacrific●rs wickednes in sedelias times : This Chapter was added to the first book . 1. I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rodde of his wrath .

Aleph 2 Me hath he led & caused to go into darknes & not light .

Aleph 3 He is wholly bent , he turneth his hand against me all the day .

Beth. 4 He hath made my flesh and my skin wax old ; he hath brused all my bones .

Beth 5 * * Ier. 32. He hath built round about me , and he hath compassed me with gall , and wearynes

Beth 6 In * * Ps ●43 . Ier. 38. dark places hath he set me , as the dead for ever .

Gimel . 7. He hath made a wall about me , that I cannot get out : he hath laid an heavie chaine vpon me .

Gimel 8 Though I cry , and call pitiously he shutteth out my prayer .

Gimel 9 He hath walled in my wayes with squared stones ; and turned away my pathes .

Daleth 10 A beare lying in wait , is he vnto me ; a Lion in a secret place .

Daleth 11 My wayes hath he made thorny ; & he hath torne me ; he hath made me desolate .

Daleth . 12 He hath bent his bow , & set me as a mark for an arrow .

Heh 13 He hath shot into my reines the shaftes of his quiver .

Heh 14 a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 1. Cor 4. we are made a spectacle of the world . I am become a laughter to all my people : their song all the day .

Heh. 15 He hath filled me with bitternes . he hath made me dronk with wormewood .

Vau 16 And he hath burst my teeth with pible stones : he hath turned me on my face in ashes .

Vau 17 And my soule is cast off from peace : I haue forgotten the good .

Vau 18 And I thought in my self , my state is vndone , and my hope from the Enall .

Zain . 19 Remember my affliction , & my vexation , worme wood & gall .

Zain 20 My soule shall still remember them , & pray within me full heavily .

Zain 21 I will set this to my hart wherfore I shall hope :

Cheth . 22 It is the mercie of the Eternall that we are not * * Ps. 64. 7. consumed , because his compassions are not spent ,

Cheth 23 Because they be new every morning , because thy fidelity is great ,

Cheth 24 The Eternall is my portion , sayth my soule : Therefore I will trust in him .

Teth. 25 The Eternall is good to them that wayt on him : to the soule that will seek vnto him .

Teth 26 It is good that a man trust & expect for the salvation of the Eternall .

Teth 27 It is good for a man that he beare the yoke in his youth .

Iod 26 He will sit alone , & be still , because HE hath laid it vpon him .

Iod 27 He will lay his face to the ground , that there may be hope .

Iod 28 He will a a Mat. 5. giue his cheek to the striker , he wil be filled with reproches .

Caph 29 For the Eternall will not cast off for ever .

Caph 30 For though he make sorowfull he will also haue compassion : according to the riches of his grace .

Caph 31 For he doth not grieve from his own hart , nor make sorowfull the sonnes of man .

Lamed 32 To stampe vnder his feet all the prisoners of the earth ,

Lamed 33 To overthrow the right of a man before the face of the Highest ,

Lamed 34 To subvert a man in his cause , the Lord liketh not .

Mem. 37 Who is he that saith , that any thing falleth out , which the Lord commaunded not ?

Mem. 38 From the mouth of the highest cometh not the evell & the good ?

Mem 39 What should living man grudge , any person after his sinne :

Nun 40 Let vs search & try our ways , & returne vnto the Eternall .

Nun 41 Let vs lift vp our hart with Mat. 6. our handes vnto * * El. Eb vsed but here : for all the Lamentations . God which is in heauen .

Nun 42 We haue trespassed and rebelled : thou hast not forgiven .

Samech . 43 Thou hast couered thy self in anger , & dost persecute vs : thou hast killed , nothing sparing .

Samech . 44 Thou hast couered thy self with a cloud : that prayer should not passe through .

Samech . S. Paul translates this . 1. Cor. 4. 45 Thou hast made * * Himself , & Baruc , & Vriah . vs the off-scouring and refuse in the middest of the people .

Pe 46 All our enemies open their mouthes against vs .

Pe 47 Fear and pit is come vpon vs : ruine & breach .

Pe 48 My eye runneth with rivers of water for the breach of the daughter of my people .

Ain . 49 Mine ey floweth & cannot ceasse : because there is no rest :

Ain 50 Vntill the Eternall looke down & behold from heaven .

Ain 51 Myne eye worketh into my soule for all the daughters of my city .

Sade 52 Mine enemies haue without cause chased me as a bird .

Sade 53 They haue cut off my life in the dungeon & they haue cast a stone vpon me . Ier. ●8 . 6.

Sade 54 Waters swim over my head , I said , I am cut off .

Koph 55 I haue called vpon thy name ô Eternall out of the low dungeon .

Koph 56 Thou diddest hear my voice , Ier. 38. hide not thine eare from my release ; at my prayer .

Koph . 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called vpon thee : thou saydest : feare not .

Resh 58 O Lord thou hast pleaded the cause of my soule , thou hast redeemed my life .

Resh 59 Thou hast seen , ô Eternall , my wrong : Iudge my right .

Resh 60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance , al their devises against me .

Shin 61 Thou hast heard their reproching , ô Eternall , all their devises against me .

Shin 62 The lippes of * * The Sacrificers that held Ieremy guilty of death for saying that Babell should destroy the citie . Ier. 38. them that stand vp against me : & their meditation against me all the day .

Shin 63 Their a a Ps. 139. 2. lying downe , and rising vp , do thou behold : I am become b b They thought it so strange that Salomons race & kingdome should fall . their sonnet .

Tau 64 Thou wilt c c S. Paul translateth this verse against Alexander the Copper-smith . 2. Tim. 4. reward them , ô Eternall , according to the workes of theyr hands .

Tau 65 Thou wilt giue them a bursting of hart : thy heavie curse wil be vpon them .

Tau 66 Thou wilt persecute in anger , & rid d d Ieremy Ch. 24. told how the men of the third captivitie should come to nothing . And Ezekiel prophecied onely in their dayes : but they would take no warning . This threefold Alphabet endeth in their threefold & absolute destruction . Yet Ezra was of that captivity . But an infant . And of Anathoth cursed by Ieremy , by repentance 128 returned . Ezra , 2. them from vnder the heavens of the Eternall .

Chap. 4.

Aleph . 1 HOw is the gold dimmed , how is the pure e e one name of gold in Eb. cethem changed : how be the holy stones powred out at the corner of all streats .

Beth 2 The children of Sion the pretious , valewed as the Fesse ore , how are they reckoned as earthen vessels , the work of the potters hand .

Gimel . 3 Even the Dragons open their breast , they give suck to their whelps : the daughter of my people is like the cruell : as * * Iob. 39 14. the ostrich in the wildernes .

Daleth 4 The tongue of the suckling cleaveth vnto his throte for thirst : the infants ask for bread , none doth break it to them .

He 5 They that fed delicately lye desolate in the streats ; they which were brought vp in scarlet embrace the donge .

Vau 6 And the punishment of the daughter of my people passeth the penaltie of Sodome , which was overthrowen as in a moment ; and no handes stayed vpon her .

Zain 7 Her Nazarites were purer then snow , whyter then milke ; they were in colour redder then the carbuncles ; they were polished like the Saphir .

Cheth 8 Their visage is darker then a coale ; they cannot be knowen in the streats ; theyr skin sticketh to theyr bones ; it is as dry as a stick .

Teth 9 The slayn by the sword are better then the slayn by hunger . For they wast away perced by wanting the fruictes of the field .

Iod 10 The hands of the pitifull women seth their own children ; they became their meat , in the breach of the daughter of my people .

Caph 11 The Eternall hath accomplished his indignation ; he hath powred out his hoat anger ; and he hath kindled a fier in Sion , which hath eaten vp her foundations .

Lamed 12 The Kings of the earth , & all that dwell in the world , would not beleve that the adversarie should enter the gates of Ierusalem .

Mem 13 For the sinnes of her prophets , for the iniquityes of her Sacrificers , which shed within her the blood of the iust :

Nun 14 The blinde stumble in the streat : they are polluted with blood : that men might not touch their garments .

Samech 15 Give place , ô polluted , they cryed vnto them , giue place , give place : touch not : when they took flight , yet they stumbled vpon others . Among the heathen it was said : they shal no longer haue a dwelling .

Pe 16 The face of the Eternall hath scattered them : he will no more regard them . They respect not the person of the Sacrificers , they pity not the Elders .

Ain 17 Even yet our eyes are spent at our vaine help : In our waiting we wait for a nation that cannot saue .

Sade 18 They chase our steppes that we cannot go in the streates : our end is approched : our dayes are fulfilled : for our end is come .

Koph . 19. Our persecuters are swifter then the egles of the sky , on the mountaines they pursue vs , in the plaine fieldes they lay wait for vs .

Resh 20 The spirit a a Iosias : the King : kild by Pharao Necho . of our nostrels the anointed of the Eternall was caught in their trap : of whome we sayd , in his shadow shall we live among the nations .

Shin 21 Reioyce & be glad o daughter b b From Esaw to the Herodes Edom hated Iacob . & no lesse then ten prophecies are against them : As Barbinel noteth vpon Obedias . Edom , which dwellest in the Land of Huz . Over thee also the cup shall passe : thou shalt be drunk & shew thy nakednes .

Tau 22 Thy punishment is accomplished , ô daughter Sion : He will no c c As in Dan. 9. 490 yeres they held their land in Gods favour . more cary thee away : he will visit thine iniquitie , ô daughter Edon : he will discover thy sinns .

Chap. 5.

1 REmember ô Eternal , what hath befallen vs : consider & behold our reproch .

2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers : our houses roaliants .

3 Wee are become orphanes , fatherles : our mothers are as widowes .

4 Our water doe we drink by money , and our wood cometh by price .

5 Our necks are vnder persecution : we are weary ; we have no rest .

6 We gave our handes to Egypt , to Assur , for to be satisfied with bread .

7 Our fathers haue sinned ; they are no more ; we beare their punishment .

8 Servants rule over vs ; none rescueth from their hand .

9 By our liues we get our bread ; for the sword of the playn fieldes .

10 Our skin is as black as an oven : for the burning of hunger .

11 They defile the women in Sion : the virgins in the cities of Iudah .

12 The princes are hanged by theyr hand : the Persons * * Deut. 28. 21. of the Elders are not honoured .

13 The yong men they take to grind : & the boyes fayle vnder the wood .

14 The Elders have ceased from the gate : the yong men from their songes :

15 The ioy of our hart hath ceased ; our dance is turned into mourning .

16 The crowne of our head is fallen ▪ wo now vnto vs that we have sinned .

17 For this our hart is sick ; for these things our eyes be dim .

18 For mount Sion which is desolate ; the foxes walk vpon it .

19 Thou ô Eternall continuest for ever ; thy throne from age to age .

20 Wherfore doest thou forget vs for ever , and forsake vs so long time .

21 Turne vs , ô Eternall vnto thee , & we shall returne : renew our dayes as of old .

22 But thou hast greatly hated vs : thou hast bene exceedingly angry against vs .

Of foure repeated verses .

Turne vs , o Eternall vnto thee , & we shall returne : renew our dayes as of old .

The verse 21 is one of the foure which in the Massoreth Bible are Printed as a postscript for better memory : an other is the last save one in Ecclesiastes : an other the last save one in Esay : the fourth , the last save one in Malachi , as I noted vpon Ecclesiastes . These sayings conteyne the main of the writers . That in Ecclesiastes biddeth vs looke for all happines in the world to come : that of Esay telleth how all Moyses policy shall end . That of Malachy sheweth how Iohn Baptist shall begin the New Testament . And this of Ieremy telleth that God will begin a new state for his People . Vpon that they studyed in Babylon fifty yeres : and they made themselves a golden age : knowing that the kingdome of Christ was in suffrings . Afterwards they are plainly told of the true kingdome : & be renued , as of old . This verse was geven in the beginning of the captivitie for a comfort that way .

Finis .