# Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Lamentacioun

Her gynneþ þe Lamentacioun of Jeremye, þat is in title Cenoþ, wiþ þe ſoylinge out of Ebru lettris.

## Capitulum I.

Aleph. Hou ſitteþ alone þe cite ful of puple? mad is as a widewe þe ladi of folc of kinde; prince of prouynces mad is vnder tribute. Beþ. Wepende ſhe wepte in þe nyȝt, and þe teres of hir in hir chekus; þer is not þat coumforte hir, of alle hir derwrþe; alle her frendus diſpiſeden hir, and ben mad to hir enemys. Gimel. Paſſyde Juda for þe affliccioun and þe multitude of ſeruage, dwellide among Jentiles, ne ſhe fond reſte; alle hir purſuerus caȝten hir among anguyſſhis. Deleþ. Þe weies of Sion weilen, for þi þat þer ben not, þat come to þe ſolempnete; alle hir ȝatus ben ſtroȝed, hir preſtys weilende, hir maidenus foule, and ſhe opreſſed wiþ bitterneſſe. He. Mad ben hir enemys in þe hed, and hir enemys ben richid, for þe Lord ſpac vp on hir. For þe multitude of hir wickeneſſes hir litil childer ben lad in to caitifte, bifor þe face of þe trublende. Vau. And wente out fro þe doȝter of Sion al hir fairneſſe; mad ben hir princes as weþeres not fyndende leſwis, and þei wenten awei wiþoute ſtrengþe bifor þe face of þe folewere. Sai. And recordide Jeruſalem of þe daies of hir affliccioun and treſpas, and of alle hir deſirable þingus þat ſhe hadde fro þe olde daies; whan ſhulde falle hir puple in þe enemys hond, and þer was not an helpere; ſeȝen hir þe enemys, and ſcorneden hir ſabatus. Heþ. A ſynne ſynnede Jeruſalem, þerfore vnſtable ſhe is mad; alle þat glorifieden hir diſpiſeden hir, for þei ſeȝen hir ſhenſhipe; ſhe forſoþe weilende, and is turned bacward. Teþ. Þe filþis of hir in hir feet, and ſhe recordide not of hir ende; do doun ſhe is hugeli, not hauende a comfortour; ſee, Lord, my tormenting, for rered vp is þe enemy. Joþ. His hond ſente þe enemy to alle hir deſirable þingus; for ſhe ſaȝ Jentilis gon in to hir ſeyntuarie, of whiche þou haddiſt comaundid, þat þei ſhulde not go in to þi chirche. Caf. Al hir puple weilende and ſechende bred, and ȝeeuen eche preciouſe þingus for mete to be refreſhid þe ſoule; ſee, Lord, and behold, for mad Y am foul. Lameþ. O! alle ȝee þat paſſen bi þe weie, takeþ heed, and ſeeþ, if þer is ſorewe as my ſorewe; for to-pullid me it haþ, as þe Lord ſpac in þe dai of þe wraþe of his wodneſſe. Men. Fro an heiȝ he ſente fyr in my bonus, and lernede me; ſpredde out a net to my feet, turnede me bacward; he ſette me deſolat, al dai wiþ mournyng defacid. Nun. Wakide þe ȝoc of my wickeneſſes in his hond, wrappid þei ben togidere, and leid on my necke; feblid is my vertu; ȝaf me þe Lord in þe hond, of whiche Y ſhal not moun riſe. Sameþ. Toc awei þe Lord alle my grete wrþi doeres fro my myddel; he clepede aȝen me tyme, þat he to-broſe my choſene; þe preſſe trad þe Lord to þe maide, doȝter of Juda. Ayn. Þerfore Y wepende, and myn eȝe ledende doun water; for ferr mad fro me is þe coumfortour, turnende my ſoule; mad ben my ſonus loſt, for mor myȝti was þe enemy. Fee. Straȝte out Sion hir hondus, þer is not þat coumforte hir; þe Lord ſente aȝen Jacob, in þe cumpas of hir, hir enemys; mad is Jeruſalem as defoulid wiþ wymmen flux blodis among hem. Sade. Riȝtwis is þe Lord, for his mouþ to wraþe Y terrede; hereþ, Y beſeche, alle puplis, and ſeeþ my ſorewe; my maidenes and my ȝunge men wenten in to caitifte. Cof. I clepede my frendus, and þei bigileden me; my preſtus and myn olde men in þe cite ben waſtid; for þei ſoȝten mete to þemſelf, þat þei refreſhe þer ſoule. Res. See, Lord, for Y am trublid, al diſturbid is my wombe; turned vp ſo doun is myn herte in myſelf, for of bitterneſſe ful Y am; wiþouteforþ ſleeþ þe ſword, and at home deþ is lyc. Syn. Þei herden, for Y inwardli weile, and þer is not þat coumforteþ me; alle myn enemys herden myn euel, gladiden, for þou didiſt; þou broȝtiſt to dai of coumforting, and mad þei ſhul be lic me. Tau. Go yn al þe euel of hem bifor þee, and to-pulle hem, as þou to-pullediſt me for my wickydneſſes; manye forſoþe my weilingis, and myn herte moornende.

## Capitulum II.

Aleph. Hou aboute couerde wiþ myſtyneſſe þe Lord in his wodneſſe þe doȝter of Sion? þreȝ aferr fro heuene in to þe glorious lond of Irael; and recordede not of his litil ſteȝing ſtol of his feet, in þe dai of his wodneſſe. Beþ. Þe Lord þreȝ doun, and ſparede not, alle þe faire þingus of Jacob; deſtroȝede in his wodneſſe þe ſtrengþingis of þe maiden of Juda, þreȝ doun in to erþe; defoulide þe reume, and his princes. Gimel. He to-brac in þe wraþe of his wodneſſe eche horn of Irael; turnede awey bacward his riȝt hond fro þe face of þe enemy; and brende vp in to Jacob, as fyr of deuourende flawme in cumpas. Deleþ. He bente his bowe as an inward enemy, and he faſtnede his riȝt hond as an vttermor enemy; and ſloȝ al þat was fair in ſiȝt in þe tabernacles of þe doȝter of Sion; heeldide out as fyr his indignacioun. He. Mad is þe Lord as an enemy; tumblede doun Irael, he tumblede doun alle his walles; waſtede his ſtrengþingus, and fulfilde in þe doȝter of Juda þe lowid man and þe lowid womman. Vau. And he waſtide as a gardyn his tent, deſtroȝede his tabernacle; to forȝeting toc þe Lord in Sion feſte dai, and ſabat; and repref, and indignacioun of his wodneſſe, king and preſt. Sai. Putte abac þe Lord his auter, curſede to his halewing; toc in to þe hondus of þe enemy þe wallis of his toures; vois þei ȝeeuen in þe hous of þe Lord, as in ſolempne dai. Heþ. Þoȝte þe Lord to ſcateren þe wal of þe doȝter of Sion; he ſtraȝte out his litil corde, and turnede not awei his hond fro perdicioun; and he weilede biforn þe walling, and þe wal togidere is ſcatered. Teþ. Doun piȝt in þe erþe ben hir ȝatus, he loſte and to-broſide hir barres; his kingis and hys princes in Jentiles; þer is not lawe, and his profetis founden not viſeoun of þe Lord. Joþ. Seten in þe erþe, alle ſtille weren þe olde men; þe doȝtris of Sion ſpringden wiþ aſkus þer hedis, ben gird to wiþ heires; þrewen awei in þe erþe þer hedus þe maidenus of Jeruſalem, gird to þei ben wiþ heires; þrewen awei in þe erþe þer hedus þe maidenus of Juda. Caph. Faileden for teres myn eȝen, diſturbid ben my bowelis; held out is in þe erþe my mawe vp on þe to-treding of þe doȝter of my puple; whan ſhulde faile þe litil child and þe ſoukende in þe ſtretus of þe burȝtoun. Lameþ. To þer modris þei ſeiden, Wher is þe whete, and wyn? whan þei ſhulden faile as woundid in þe ſtretus of þe cite; whan þei ſhulde breþen out þer ſoulis in þe boſum of þer modris. Men. To whom ſhal Y compariſoune þee? or to whom ſhal Y licnen þee, þou doȝter of Jeruſalem? to whom ſhal Y euenen þee, and coumforte þee, þou maiden doȝter of Sion? gret forſoþe as þe ſe þi contricioun; who ſhal lechen þee. Nun. Þi profetus ſeeȝen to þee falſe, and fool þingus; and openeden not þi wickeneſſe, þat þee to penaunce þei ſhulde ſtere; þei ſeȝen forſoþe to þee fals takingis to, and þrowingis out. Sameþ. Flappeden vp on þee wiþ hondus alle þe paſſeres bi þe wey; whiſtleden, and moueden þer hed vp on þe doȝter of Jeruſalem; ſeiende, Wheþer þis is not þe cheef cite of parfit fairneſſe, þe ioȝe of al erþe? Ayn. Openeden vp on þee þer mouþ alle þin enemyes; whiſtleden, and gnaſteden wiþ þer teeþ, and ſeiden, Wee ſhul deuoure; lo! þis is þe dai þat wee abiden, wee han founde, and ſeen. Fee. Þe Lord dide þat he þoȝte, he fulfilde his wrd þat he comaundide fro þe olde daȝes; he deſtroȝede, and ſparede not; and gladide vp on þee þe enemy, and enhauncede þe horn of þin enemys. Sade. Criede þe herte of hem to þe Lord, vp on þe wallis of þe doȝter of Sion; bring doun as a ſtef ſtrem teres, bi dai and nyȝt; ȝyue þou not reſte to þee, ne be ſtille þe appil of þin eȝe. Coph. Ris, preiſe þou in þe nyȝt, in þe bigynnyng of wacchis; heeld out as water þin herte, byfor þe ſiȝt of þe Lord; rere to hym þin hondus for þe ſoule of þi litil childer, þat for hunger perſhen in þe hed of alle many weies in to oon. Res. See, Lord, and behold, whom þou haſt to-pullid; ſo þerfore leſt ſhuln ete wymmen þer frut, litil childer at þe meſure of a ſpanne; for ſlayn is in þe ſeyntuarie of þe Lord þe preſt, and þe profete. Syn. Leȝen in þe erþe wiþouteforþ þe child and þe olde man; my maidenes and my ȝunge men fellen in ſwerd ſlayn; in þe dai of þi wodneſſe þou ſmyte, ne þou ſhalt han reuþe. Tau. Þou clepedeſt, as to a ſolempne day, þat ſhulden fere me of þe cumpas; and þer was not þat ſhulde ſcape in þe dai of þe wodneſſe of þe Lord, and be laft; whom Y broȝte forþ and nurſhede, myn enemy waſtede þem.

## Capitulum III.

Aleph. I a man ſeende my poreneſſe in þe ȝerde of his indignacioun. Me he drof, and broȝt in to dercneſſis, and not in to liȝt. Onli in to me turnede, and conuertede his hond al dai. Beþ. For eldid he made my ſkyn, and my fleſh; he to-broſyde my bonus. He bilde vp in my cumpas, and cumpaſſede me wiþ galle and wiþ trauaile. In derke þingus he ſette me, as deade men euere durende. Gimel. He bilde aboute aȝen me, þat Y go not out; he agreggede myn gyues. But and whan Y ſhal crien and preȝe, he cloſede out myn oryſoun. He cloſede my weyes wiþ ſquar ſtonus; my ſtyes he turnede vp ſo doun. Deleþ. A waitende bere maad he is to me, a leoun in hid þingus. My paþis he turnede vp ſo doun, and tobrac me; he putte me deſolat. He bente his bowe, and ſette me as a ſigne to þe arewe. He. He putte in my reynes þe doȝtris of his arewe cas. Y am mad in to ſcorne to al puple, þe ſong of þem al dai. He fulfilde me wiþ bitterneſſes; he drunknede me wiþ wrmod. Vau. He to-brac at noumbre my teeþ; he fedde me wiþ aſkus. And put a bac is my ſoule; Y forȝat of goodus. And Y ſeide, Perſhede myn ende, and myn hope fro þe Lord. Sai. Recorde of poreneſſe and of myn ouergoing, and of wrmod and of galle. Bi mynde Y ſhal be myndeful; and failen in me ſhal my ſoule. Þeſe þingus þenkende in myn herte, in God Y ſhal hope. Heþ. Þe mercyes of þe Lord manye, forſoþe wee ben not waſtid; for his mercyes faileden not. Y kneȝ þe morutid; myche is þi feiþ. My partie þe Lord, ſeide my ſoule; þerfore Y ſhal abiden hym. Teþ. Good is þe Lord to men hopende in hym, to þe ſoule ſechende hym. Good is to abide wiþ ſilence þe helþe ȝyuere of God. Good is to þe man, þat haþ born þe ȝoc of þe Lord fro his waxende ȝouþe. Joþ. He ſhal ſitte ſolitarie, and be ſtille; for he rerede hymſelf aboue hymſelf. He ſhal ſette in pouder his mouþ, if par auenture þer be hope. He ſhal ȝyue to þe ſmytende hym þe cheke; he ſhal be fulfyld wiþ repreues. Caph. For putten abac ſhul not þe Lord in to euermor. For if he haue caſt awei, and he ſhal haue mercy after þe multitude of his mercies. Forſoþe he loewede not of his herte; and caſte awei þe ſonus of man. Lameþ. Þat he ſhulde tobroſe vnder his feet alle þe gyuede of þe lond. Þat he ſhulde boowe doun þe dom of man, in þe ſiȝte of þe chere of þe heȝeſt. Þat he ſchuld myſturne a man in his dom, þe Lord kneȝ not. Men. Who ys þis þat ſeide, þat ſhulde be don, þe Lord not comaundende? Of þe mouþ of þe heȝeſt ſhul not go out ne goode þingus ne euele. What grucchede a man lyuende, a man for his ſynnes? Nun. Serche we oure weies, and ſeche, and be wee turned aȝeen to þe Lord. Rere wee oure hertus wiþ hondus, to þe Lord in to heuenus. Wee wickeli diden, and to wraþe terreden; þerfore þou art vnpreiable. Sameþ. Þou coueridiſt in wodneſſe, and ſmyte vs; þou ſlowe, and ſparediſt not. Þou putteſt aȝen a cloude to þee, leſt paſſe þe preieer. Pulling vp bi þe roote, and caſting awei, þou puttiſt me, in þe myddel of puplus. Ain. Myn eȝe is tormentid, and was not ſtille; forþi þat þer was not reſte. To þe tyme þat ſhulde biholde and looke þe Lord fro heuenus. Myn eȝe robbede my ſoule in alle þe doȝtris of my cheef cite. Fe. Openeden vp on vs þer mouþ, alle þe enemys. Ferd and gren don is to vs, profeciyng and contricioun. My eȝen broȝten doun deuyſeouns of watris, in þe contricioun of þe doȝter of my puple. Sade. Bi hunting þei token me as a brid, myn enemys freeli. Slyden is in to a grene my lyf; þei ſetten a ſton vp on me. Floweden watris vp on myn hed; Y ſeide, Y perſhede. Cof. I inwardli clepede þi name, Lord, fro þe laſte grene. My vois þou herdeſt; ne turne þou awei þin ere fro my ſobbing and cries. Þou neȝhediſt in þe dai, whan Y inwardli clepede þee; þou ſeidiſt, Ne drede þou. Res. Þou demedeſt, Lord, þe cauſe of my ſoule, þou aȝeen biere of my lif. Þou ſeeȝe, Lord, þe wickeneſſe of þem aȝen me; deme þou my dom. Þou ſeȝe eche wodneſſe, alle þe þoȝtus of hem aȝens me. Syn. Þou haſt herd þe repreues of hem, Lord; alle þe þoȝtus of hem aȝen me. Þe lippis of men inriſende to me, and þe biþenkingus of hem aȝen me al day. Þe ſitting of hem and þe aȝeen riſing of hem ſee; Y am þe ſalm of hem. Tau. Þou ſhalt ȝelde to þem þe while, Lord, after þe werkis of þer hondus. Þou ſhalt ȝyue to þem þe ſheld of herte, þi trauaile. Þou ſhalt purſue in þi wodneſſe, and to-trede þem vnder heuenus, Lord.

## Capitulum IIII.

Aleph. Hou bicome derc is gold, chaungid is þe beſt colour? ſcatered ben þe ſtonus of þe ſeyntuarie in þe hed of alle ſtretus. Beþ. Þe ſonus of Sion glorious, and wrappid wiþ þe chef gold, in to erþene veſſeles, werk of þe hondis of a crockere. Gimel. But and þe cruel beeſtis clepid lamya, nakeden þer tetes, ȝeeuen þer whelpus ſouken; þe doȝter of my puple cruel, as an oſtrich in deſert. Deleþ. Cleuede to þe tonge of þe ſoukende to his palet in þriſt; þe litil childer aſkeden bred, and þer was not þat ſhulde breke to þem. He. Þat eeten voluptuouſly, dieden in weies; þat weren nurſhid in faire clois of ſaffroun, han clippid þoſtus. Vau. And more mad is þe wickedneſſe of þe doȝter of my puple þan þe ſynne of Sodomys, þat is turned vp ſo doun in a moment, and toc not in to it hondus. Sai. Whittere is Nazareis þan ſnoȝ, ſhynendere þan mylc; reddere þan old yuer, þan ſafyr fairere. Heþ. Gretli blakid is aboue colis þe face of hem, and þei ben not knowen in ſtretus; cleuede to þe ſkyn to þe bonus of hem, it driede, and mad is as a tree. Teþ. Betere was to þe ſlayn men wiþ ſwerd, þan to þe ſlayn men wiþ hungir; for þei anoen ben dead, þeſe ful out faileden, ben towaſtid of þe bareyneſſe of þe erþe. Joþ. Þe hondus of merciful wymmen ſeþeden þer ſonus; mad þei ben þe metus of hem in þe contricioun of þe doȝter of my puple. Caf. Þe Lord fulfilde his wodneſſe, helde out þe wraþe of his indignacioun; and þe Lord tende vp fyr in Sion, and deuourede his foundemens. Lameþ. Leeueden not þe kingis of þe lond, and alle þe dwelleris of þe world, þat gon in ſhulde þe ferr enemy and þe nyȝ enemy bi þe ȝatus of Jeruſalem. Men. For þe ſynnes of his profetus, and þe wickidneſſis of his preſtus, þat heeldeden out in his myddil þe blod of riȝtwis men. Nun. Erreden þe blinde in ſtretus, defoulid ben in blod; and whan þei myȝte not entre, þei heelden þer ſwolwis. Sameþ. Goþ awei, ȝee defoulid, þei crieden to þem, departeþ awei, goþ awei, wileþ not touche; forſoþe þei iangleden, and ben to-ſtired; ſeiden among Jentiles, He ſhal no more lei to, þat he dwelle in hem. Ain. Þe face of þe Lord deuydede þem, he ſhal not adde, þat he beholde þem; þe faces of preſtus þei ſhameden not, ne of þe olde men þei reweden. Fee. Whan ȝit wee ſhulde ſtonden alyue, faileden oure eȝen to oure veyn help; whanne wee bihelden takende heed to þe folc of kinde, þat ſaue vs myȝte not. Sade. Þei maden ſlidery oure ſteppis in þe weie of oure ſtretes; neȝhede oure ende, fulfild ben oure daȝes, for comen is oure ende. Cof. Swiftere weren oure purſueres þan egles of heuene vp on þe mounteinus; þei purſueden vs, in deſert þei ſetteden aſpies to vs. Res. Þe ſpirit of oure mouþ, Criſt Lord, taken is in oure ſynnes; to whom we ſeiden, In þi ſhadewe wee ſhul lyue in folkus of kinde. Syn. Ioȝe, and glade, þou doȝter of Edom, þat dwelliſt in þe lond of Hus; to þee alſo ſhal come þe chalis, þou ſhalt be drunke, and nakened. Tau. Fulfilde is þi wickeneſſe, þou doȝter of Sion; he ſhal no more adde, þat he ouerpaſſe þee; he ſhal viſite þi wickeneſſe, þou doȝter of Edom, diſcouere he ſhal þi ſynnes.

## Capitulum V.

Here begynneþ þe Oriſoun of Jeremye, þe prophete.
Recorde, Lord, what haþ falle to vs; inwardly looke, and behold oure repref. Oure eretage turned is to alienes, oure houſes to ſtraungeres. Faderles childer we ben mad wiþ oute fader; oure moders as widewis. Oure water in monee wee han drunke, oure trees for pris wee han boȝt. Bi oure nollis we were dryue, and to þe weri was not ȝoue reſte. To Egipt wee ȝeeuen hond, and to Aſſiries, þat wee ſhulde be fulfild wiþ bred. Oure faders ſynneden, and ben not, and wee þe wickidneſſes of hem han born. Seruauns lordſhipeden of vs, and þer was not, þat aȝeen ſhulde bie fro þe hond of hem. In oure lyues we broȝten to bred to vs, fro þe face of þe ſwerd in deſert. Oure ſkin as an ouene is tobrent, fro þe face of tempeſtus of hunger. Wymmen in Sion þei meekiden, and maidenus in þe cites of Juda. Princes bi þe hond ben hangid vp; faces of olde men þei ſhameden not. Þe ȝunge wymmen vnchaſtli þei myſuſeden, and þe childer in tree togidere fellen. Olde men faileden of þe ȝatus; ȝunge men of þe quer of ſyngeres. Failede þe ioȝe of oure herte; turned is in to weiling oure quer. Fel þe croune of oure hed; wo to vs! for wee han ſynned. Þerfore dreri mad is oure herte, þerfore to-dercned ben oure eȝen. For þe mount of Sion, for it diſperiſht; wlues ȝiden in it. Þou, forſoþe, Lord, in to wiþ oute ende ſhalt abide ſtille; þi ſee in to ieneracioun and to ieneracioun. Whi in to wiþ oute ende þou ſhalt forȝeten vs, þou ſhalt forſake vs in to þe lengþe of daȝis? Conuerte vs, Lord, to þee, and we ſhul be conuertid; newe þou oure daȝes, as fro þe bigynnyng. But caſtende awei þou haſt put vs out; þou wraþediſt aȝen vs hugely.
Her endeþ Jeremye, and gynneþ þe prolog in þe boc clepid Baruch.