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Lamentations 3

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Lamentations chapter 3 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.

Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.

Lamentations 3

1ALEPH. I am the man that sees poverty, through the rod of his wrath upon me.ΑΛΕΦ. Ἐγὼ ἀνὴρ ὁ βλέπων πτωχείαν, ἐν ῥάβδῳ θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἐμέ.

2He has taken me, and led me away into darkness, and not into light.Παρέλαβέ με καὶ ἀπήγαγέ με εἰς σκότος, καὶ οὐ φῶς.

3Nay, against me has he turned his hand all the day.Πλὴν ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐπέστρεψε χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν,

4He has made old my flesh and my skin; he has broken my bones.ἐπαλαίωσε σάρκα μου καὶ δέρμα μου, ὀστέα μου συνέτριψεν.

5BETH. He has built against me, and compassed my head, and brought travail upon me.ΒΗΘ. Ἀνῳκοδόμησε κατʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐκύκλωσε κεφαλήν μου, καὶ ἐμόχθησεν·

6He has set me in dark places, as them that have long been dead.ἐν σκοτεινοῖς ἐκάθισέ με ὡς νεκροὺς αἰῶνος.

7He has builded against me, and I can’t come forth: he has made my brazen chain heavy.Ἀνῳκοδόμησε κατʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξελεύσομαι, ἐβάρυνε χαλκόν μου.

8GIMEL. Yes, though I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer.ΓΙΜΕΛ. Καί γε κεκράξομαι καὶ βοήσω, ἀπέφραξε προσευχήν μου.

9DALETH. He has built up my ways, he has hedged my paths;ΔΑΛΕΘ. Ἀνῳκοδόμησεν ὁδούς μου, ἐνέφραξε τρίβους μου,

10he has troubled me, as a she-bear lying in wait: he is to me as a lion in secret places.ἐτάραξεν ἄρκος ἐνεδρεύουσα, αὐτός μοι λέων ἐν κρυφαίοις,

11He pursued me after I departed, and brought me to a stand: he has utterly ruined me.κατεδίωξεν ἀφεστηκότα, καὶ κατέπαυσέ με, ἔθετό με ἠφανισμένην.

12HE. He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.Η. Ἐνέτεινε τόξον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐστήλωσέ με ὡς σκοπὸν εἰς βέλος.

13He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.Εἰσήγαγεν ἐν τοῖς νεφροῖς μου ἰοὺς φαρέτρας αὐτοῦ.

14I became a laughing stock to all my people; and their song all the day.Ἐγενήθην γέλως παντὶ λαῷ μου, ψαλμὸς αὐτῶν ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν.

15VAU. He has filled me with bitterness, he has drenched me with gall.ΟΥΑΥ. Ἐχόρτασέ με πικρίας, ἐμέθυσέ με χολῆς,

16And he has dashed out my teeth with gravel, he has fed me with ashes.καὶ ἐξέβαλε ψήφῳ ὀδόντας μου· ἐψώμισέ με σποδὸν,

17He has also removed my soul from peace: I forgot prosperity.καὶ ἀπώσατο ἐξ εἰρήνης ψυχήν μου· ἐπελαθόμην ἀγαθά.

18Therefore my success has perished, and my hope from the Lord.Καὶ ἀπώλετο νῖκός μου, καὶ ἡ ἐλπίς μου ἀπὸ Κυρίου.

19ZAIN. I remembered by reason of my poverty, and because of persecution my bitterness and gall shall be remembered;ΖΑΙΝ. Ἐμνήσθην ἀπὸ πτωχείας μου, καὶ ἐκ διωγμοῦ πικρία καὶ χολή μου μνησθήσεται,

20and my soul shall meditate with me.καὶ καταδολεσχήσει ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ ψυχή μου.

21This will I lay up in my heart, therefore I will endure.Ταύτην τάξω εἰς τὴν καρδίαν μου, διατοῦτο ὑπομενῶ.

21aΗΘ. Τὰ ἐλέη Κυρίου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐξέλιπέ με, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθησαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ· μῆνας εἰς τὰς πρωΐας ἐλέησον Κύριε, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθημεν, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθησαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ.

21bΚαινὰ εἰς τὰς πρωΐας, πολλὴ ἡ πίστις σου.

21cΜερίς μου Κύριος, εἶπεν ἡ ψυχή μου· διατοῦτο ὑπομενῶ αὐτῷ·

22HETH. It is the mercies of the Lord, that he has not failed me, because his compassions are not exhausted. Pity us, O Lord, early every month: for we are not brought to an end, because his compassions are not exhausted.

23They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.

24The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I wait for him.

25TETH. The Lord is good to them that wait for him: the soul which shall seek himΤΗΘ. Ἀγαθὸς Κύριος τοῖς ὑπομένουσιν αὐτὸν, ψυχὴ ἣ ζητήσει αὐτὸν, ἀγαθόν·

26is good, and shall wait for, and quietly expect salvation of the Lord.καὶ ὑπομενεῖ, καὶ ἡσυχάσει εἰς τὸ σωτήριον Κυρίου.

27TETH. It is good for a man when he bears a yoke in his youth.ΤΗΘ. Ἀγαθὸν ἀνδρὶ, ὅταν ἄρῃ ζυγὸν ἐν νεότητι αὐτοῦ,

28He will sit alone, and be silent, because he has borne it upon him.καθήσεται κατὰ μόνας, καὶ σιωπήσεται, ὅτι ᾖρεν ἐφʼ ἑαυτῷ.

30JOD. He will give his cheek to him that smites him: he will be filled full with reproaches.ΙΩΔ. Δώσει τῷ παίοντι αὐτὸν σιαγόνα, χορτασθήσεται ὀνειδισμῶν·

31For the Lord will not reject for ever.Ὅτι οὐκ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἀπώσεται Κύριος.

32CHAPH. For he that has brought down will pity, and that according to the abundance of his mercy.ΧΑΦ. Ὅτι ὁ ταπεινώσας οἰκτειρήσει, καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ ἐλέους αὐτοῦ,

33He has not answered in anger from his heart, though he has brought low the children of a man.οὐκ ἀπεκριθη ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐταπείνωσεν υἱοὺς ἀνδρός.

34LAMED. To bring down under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,ΛΑΜΕΔ. Τοῦ ταπεινῶσαι ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ πάντας δεσμίους γῆς,

35to turn aside the judgment of a man before the face of the Most High,τοῦ ἐκκλίναι κρίσιν ἀνδρὸς κατέναντι προσώπου ὑψίστου,

36to condemn a man unjustly in his judgment, the Lord has not given commandment.καταδικάσαι ἄνθρωπον ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαι αὐτὸν, Κύριος οὐκ εἶπε.

37Who has thus spoken, and it has come to pass? the Lord has not commanded it.Τίς οὕτως εἶπε, καὶ ἐγενήθη; Κύριος οὐκ ἐνετείλατο.

38Out of the mouth of the Most High there shall not come forth evil and good.Ἐκ στόματος ὑψίστου οὐκ ἐξελεύσεται τὰ κακὰ καὶ τὸ ἀγαθόν.

39MEM. Why should a living man complain, a man concerning his sin?ΜΗΜ. Τί γογγύσει ἄνθρωπος ζῶν, ἀνὴρ περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ;

40NUN. Our way has been searched out and examined, and we will turn to the Lord.ΝΟΥΝ. Ἐξηρευνήθη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ἠτάσθη, καὶ ἐπιστρέψομεν ἕως Κυρίου.

41Let us lift up our hearts with our hand to the lofty One in heaven.Ἀναλάβωμεν καρδίας ἡμῶν ἐπὶ χειρῶν πρὸς ὑψηλὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ.

42We have sinned, we have transgressed; and you have not pardoned.Ἡμαρτήσαμεν, ἠσεβήσαμεν, καὶ οὐχ ἱλάσθης.

43SAMECH. You have visited us in wrath, and driven us away: you have slain, you have not pitied.ΣΑΜΕΧ. Ἐπεσκέπασας ἐν ʼθυμῷ, καὶ ἀπεδίωξας ἡμᾶς, ἀπέκτεινας, οὐκ ἐφείσω.

44You have veiled yourself with a cloud because of prayer, that I might be blind,Ἐπεσκέπασας νεφέλην σεαυτῷ ἕινεκεν προσευχῆς,

45and be cast off. AIN. You have set us alone in the midst of the nations.καμμύσαι με καὶ ἀπωσθῆναι. ΑΙΝ. Ἔθηκας ἡμᾶς ἐν μέσῳ τῶν λαῶν.

46All our enemies have opened their mouth against us.Διήνοιξαν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν πάντες οἱ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν.

47Fear and wrath are come upon us, suspense and destruction.Φόβος καὶ θυμὸς ἐγενήθη ἡμῖν, ἔπαρσις καὶ συντριβή.

48My eye shall pour down torrents of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.Ἀφέσεις ὑδάτων κατάξει ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἐπὶ τὸ σύντριμμα τῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ λαοῦ μου.

49PHE. My eye is drowned with tears, and I will not be silent, so that there shall be no rest,ΦΗ. Ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου κατεπόθη, καὶ οὐ σιγήσομαι τοῦ μὴ εἶναι ἔκνηψιν,

50until the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.ἕως οὗ διακύψῃ καὶ ἴδῃ Κύριος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.

51My eye shall prey upon my soul, because of all the daughters of the city.Ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἐπιφυλλιεῖ ἐπὶ τὴν ψυχήν μου παρὰ πάσας θυγατέρας πόλεως.

52TSADE. The fowlers chased me as a sparrow, all my enemies destroyed my life in a pit without cause,ΤΣΑΔΗ. Θηρεύοντες ἐθήρευσάν με ὡς στρουθίον· πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί μου δωρεὰν

53and laid a stone upon me.ἐθανάτωσαν ἐν λάκκῳ ζωήν μου, καὶ ἐπέθηκαν λίθον ἐπʼ ἐμοί.

54Water flowed over my head: I said, I am cut off.Ὑπερεχύθη ὕδωρ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν μου· εἶπα, ἄπωσμαι.

55KOPH. I called upon your name, O Lord, out of the lowest dungeon.ΚΩΦ. Ἐπεκαλεσάμην τὸ ὄνομά σου, Κύριε, ἐκ λάκκου κατωτάτου·

56You heard my voice: close not your ears to my supplication.Φωνήν μου ἤκουσας· μὴ κρύψῃς τὰ ὦτά σου εἰς τὴν δέησίν μου·

57You drew near to my help: in the day wherein I called upon you you said to me, Fear not.Εἰς τὴν βοήθειάν μου ἤγγισας· ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἐπεκαλεσάμην σε εἶπάς μοι, μὴ φοβοῦ.

58RECHS. O Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.ΡΗΧΣ. Ἐδίκασας, Κύριε, τὰς δίκας τῆς ψυχῆς μου, ἐλυτρώσω τὴν ζωήν μου.

59You have seen, O Lord, my troubles: you have judged my cause.Ἴδες, Κύριε, τὰς ταραχάς μου, ἔκρινας τὴν κρίσιν μου.

60You have seen all their vengeance, you have looked on all their devices against me.Εἶδες πᾶσαν τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν, εἰς πάντας διαλογισμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐν ἐμοί.

61CHSEN. You have heard their reproach and all their devices against me;ΧΣΕΝ. Ἤκουσας τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν αὐτῶν, πάντας τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς αὐτῶν κατʼ ἐμοῦ,

62the lips of them that rose up against me, and their plots against me all the day;χείλη ἐπανισταμένων μοι, καὶ μελέτας αὐτῶν κατʼ ἐμοῦ ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν,

63their sitting down and their rising up: look you upon their eyes.καθέδραν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀνάστασιν αὐτῶν· ἐπίβλεψον ἐπὶ ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν.

64You will render them a recompense, O Lord, according to the works of their hands.Ἀποδώσεις αὐτοῖς ἀνταπόδομα, Κύριε, κατὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.

65THAU. You will give them as a covering, the grief of my heart.ΘΑΥ. Ἀποδώσεις αὐτοῖς ὑπερασπισμὸν, καρδίας μου μόχθον.

66You will persecute them in anger, and will consume them from under the heaven, O Lord.Σὺ αὐτοὺς καταδιώξεις ἐν ὀργῇ, καὶ ἐξαναλώσεις αὐτοὺς ὑποκάτωθεν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, Κύριε.

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