The most sacred Bible, whiche is the Holy Scripture conteyning the Old and New Testament / translated into English, and newly recognised with great diligence after most faythful exemplars, by Rychard Taverner.

CAPI. I.

ALEPH. [ A] * 1.1ALas, howe sytteth the city so desolat, that somtyme was full of people? How is she be∣come like a widow whi¦che was the lady of all nacions? Howe is she brought vnder tribute y^t ruled all landes?

BETH. * 1.2She wepeth sore in the nyght, so that the teares run downe her chekes: for among all her louers, there is none that gyueth her any comfort: yea her next frendes abhore her, and are become her ennemyes.

GIMEL. Iuda is taken prysoner, bycause she was defyled: and for seruynge so manye straunge goddes, she dwelleth now amonge the Hea∣then. She fyndeth no rest, all they that perse∣cuted her, toke her, and so she dwelleth amōg her ennemyes.

DALETH. The stretes of Sion mourne, bicause no mā [ B] commeth any more to the solemne feestes. Al her gates are desolate, her preestes make lamē¦tacion, her maydens are carefull, and she her selfe is in great heuynesse.

HE. Her enemyes are fallen vpon her heed, and haue put her to shame: bycause the Lorde hath chastened her for her great wickednesse: her chyldren are ledde awaye captyue before theyr ennemye.

VAV. All the beautie of the doughter Sion is a∣way, her princes are becom like wethers that fynde no pasture. They are dryuen away be∣fore their ennemye, so that they haue no more power.

ZAIN. [ C] Now dothe Ierusalem remembre the tyme of her miserye and disobedience, yea the ioye and pleasure that she hath hast in tymes past: seynge her people is brought downe thorow the power of their ennemye, and there is no man for to helpe her: her ennemyes stande lokynge at her, and laugh her Saboth dayes to scorne.

HETH. Ierusalē synned euer more and more, ther∣fore is she come in decaye. All they that had her in honour, despise her: for they haue sene her fylthynesse. Yea she sigheth and is asha∣med of her selfe.

TETH. Her skyrtes are defiled, she remembred not what wold folow: therfore is her fal so great and there is no man to comfort her. O Lorde considre my trouble, for myne ennemye hathe the vpper hande.

IOD. The ennemye hathe put his hande to all [ D] the precious thynges that she had: yea euen before her eyes came the Heathen in and out of the Sanctuarye whome thou (neuerthe∣lesse) hast forbydden to come within thy con¦gregacion.

CAPH. All her people seke their breed with heuy∣nesse, and loke what precious thynge euerye man hath, that giueth he for meat to saue his lyfe. Considre, O Lorde, and se, howe vyle I am become.

LAMED. O ye all that go fore by, beholde and se, yf ther be any sorow like vnto myne, wherwith the Lord hath troubled me in the daye of his fearefull wrathe.

MEM. From aboue hathe he sent downe a fyre in [ E] to my bones and chastened me: he hath layde a net for my fete, and throwen me wyde open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must euer be mournynge.

NVN. The yoke of my transgressyon is come at the laste, with his hande hath he taken it vp, and put it aboute my necke. My strengthe is gone: the Lorde hathe delyuered me in to those handes, from which I can not quite my selfe.

SAMECH.

The Lord hath destroyed all y^e mighty men that were in me. He hath proclaymed a feest, to slaughter all my best men. The Lorde hath troden downe the doughter of Iuda, lyke as it were a wyne presse.

AIN. [ F] Therfore doo I wepe, and myne eyes gush out water: for the comforter that sholde quic∣ken me, is farre fro me. My children are dry∣uen awaye, for why? the enemy hath gotten the ouer hande.

PHE. Syon casteth out her handes, & there is to man to comfort her. The Lorde hath layd the ennemyes rounde aboute Iacob, and Ierusa¦lem is as it were a menstruous womā in the myddest of them.

ZADE. The Lorde is rightous, for I haue prouo∣ked his φ countenaunce vnto angre.* 1.3 O take bede all ye people, and considre my heuinesse: My maydens and my yonge men are led a∣waye into captiuitie.

KOPH. I called for my louers (but they begiled me) for my preestes and counsellers, but they pe∣risshed: euen whyle they sought for meat to saue their lyues.

RES. [ G] Considre (o Lorde) how I am troubled, my wōbe is disquieted, my herte turneth about in me, and I am ful of heuinesse. The swerd hur¦teth me without, and within I am lyke vnto deth.

SIN. They heare my mourning, but ther is none that wil comfort me. Al myne enemyes haue heed of my trouble, & are glad therof, bicause thou hast done it. But thou shalt bring forthe the tyme, whē they also shal be like vnto me.

THAV. From the shal come al their aduersite, thou shalt plucke them awaye, euen as thou haste plucked me bycause of all my wyckednesse. For my sorow is very greate, and my herte is heuy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ii. Reg .iiii. b .iiii. Reg .xv. a
• * 1.2

  Ieremy .xiii .c
• * 1.3

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