Lamentations Aleph. Alas, how sytteth the citie so desolate, that some tyme was full of people? How is she become lyke a wedowe, whiche was the ladye of all nacyons? How is she brought vnder trybute, that ruled all landes.

Matthew⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Aleph. Alas, how sytteth the citie so desolate, that some tyme was full of people? How is she become lyke a wedowe, whiche was the ladye of all nacyons? How is she brought vnder trybute, that ruled all landes. ² Beth. She wepeth sore in the nyght, so that the teares runne downe her chekes: for amonge all her louers, there is none that geueth her eny comforte: ye her nexte frendes abhorre her, and are become her enemyes. ³ Gymel. Iuda is taken presoner, because she was defiled: and for seruynge so manye straunge goddes, she dwelleth now amonge the Heythen. She fyndeth no rest, all they that persecuted her, toke her, & so she dwelleth amonge her enemyes. ⁴ Daleth. The streates of Sion mourne, because no man commeth more to the solempne feastes. All her gates are desolate, her prestes make lamentacyon, her maydens are carefulll, and she her selfe is in greate heuynesse. ⁵ He. Her enemyes are fallen vpon her head, & haue put her to shame: because the Lord hath chastened her for her greate wickednes: her children are ledde awaye captiue before their enemye. ⁶ Vau. All the bewtie of the daughter of Syon is awaye, her princes are become like wethers that fynd no pastur. They are driuen away befor their enemye, so that they haue no more power. ⁷ Zain. Now doth Ierusalem remembre the tyme of her misery & dysobedience, yee the ioye and pleasure that she hath had in tymes past: seynge her people is brought downe thorow the power of their enemie, & there is no man for to helpe her: her enemies stande lokinge at her & laugh her Sabbath dayes to scorne. ⁸ Heth. Ierusalem synned euer more & more, therfore is she come in decaye. All they that had her in honour, despyse her: for they haue sene her fylthynesse. Yee she sygheth, and is a shamed of her selfe. ⁹ Teth. Her skyrtes are defyled, she remembred not what wolde folowe: therfore is her fall so greate, and there is no man to comforte her. O Lord, consydre my trouble, for myne enemye hath the vpperhande. ¹⁰ Iod. The enemye hath put his hande to all the precious thynges that she had, yee euen before her eyes came the Heathen in & out of the Sanctuarye: whom thou (neuertheles) hast forbydden to come within thy congregacyon. ¹¹ Caph. All her people seke their bred wyth heuynes, & loke what precyous thynge euery man hath, that geueth he for meate, to saue his lyfe. Consydre, O Lorde, and se, how vyle I am become. ¹² Lamed. O ye all that go fore by, beholde and se, yf there be eny sorow like vnto myne, wherwith the Lord hath troubled me, in the daye of his fearefull wrath. ¹³ Mem. From aboute hath he sent downe a fyre into my bones and chastened me: he hath layed a net for my fete, and throwen me wyde open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must euer be mournynge. ¹⁴ Nun. The yocke of my transgressyon is come at the last, with his hande hath he taken it vp, & put it aboute my neck. My strength is gone: the Lorde hath delyuered me in to those handes, wherout I can not quyte my selfe. ¹⁵ Samech. The Lorde hath destroyed all the mightie men, that were in me. He hath proclamed a feast, to slaughter all my best men. The Lord hath troden downe the daughter of Iuda, like as it were in wyne presse. ¹⁶ Ain. Therfore do I wepe, & myne eyes gusshe oute of water: for the comforter that shulde quycken me, is farre fro me. My chyldren are dryuen awaye, for why? the enemie hath gotten the ouer hande. ¹⁷ Phe. Sion casteth out her handes, and there is no man to conforte her. The Lord hath layed the enemyes rounde aboute Iacob, and Ierusalem is as it were a menstruous woman, in the myddest of them. ¹⁸ Zade. The Lorde is ryghtuous, for I haue prouoked his contenaunce vnto anger. O take hede all ye people, and consydre my heuynes: My maydens and my younge men are led awaye into captyuytye. ¹⁹ Koph. I called for my louers (but they begyled me) for my Prestes and councelers, but they peryshed: euen whyle they sought for meate, to saue their lyues. ²⁰ Res. Consydre (O Lorde) how I am troubled, my wombe is dysquyeted, my herte turneth about in me, and I am full of heuynes. The swearde hurteth me without, and within I am lyke vnto death. ²¹ Sin. They heare my mournynge, but there is none that wyll comforte me. All myne enemyes haue hearde of my trouble, & are glad therof, because thou hast done it. But thou shalt brynge forth the tyme, when they also shalbe lyke vnto me. ²² Thau. From the shall come all their aduersytye: thou shalt plucke them awaye euen as thou hast plucked me, because of all my wyckednes. For my sorowe is very greate, and my herte is heuy.