Lamentations - Caput 2

Lamentations 2.1 ALEPH quomodo obtexit caligine in furore suo Dominus filiam Sion proiecit de caelo terram inclitam Israhel et non recordatus est scabilli pedum suorum in die furoris sui Lamentations 2.2 BETH praecipitavit Dominus nec pepercit omnia speciosa Iacob destruxit in furore suo munitiones virginis Iuda deiecit in terram polluit regnum et principes eius Lamentations 2.3 GIMEL confregit in ira furoris omne cornu Israhel avertit retrorsum dexteram suam a facie inimici et succendit in Iacob quasi ignem flammae devorantis in gyro Lamentations 2.4 DELETH tetendit arcum suum quasi inimicus firmavit dexteram suam quasi hostis et occidit omne quod pulchrum erat visu in tabernaculo filiae Sion effudit quasi ignem indignationem suam Lamentations 2.5 HE factus est Dominus velut inimicus praecipitavit Israhel praecipitavit omnia moenia eius dissipavit munitiones eius et replevit in filia Iuda humiliatum et humiliatam Lamentations 2.6 VAV et dissipavit quasi hortum tentorium suum demolitus est tabernaculum suum oblivioni tradidit Dominus in Sion festivitatem et sabbatum et obprobrio in indignatione furoris sui regem et sacerdotem Lamentations 2.7 ZAI reppulit Dominus altare suum maledixit sanctificationi suae tradidit in manu inimici muros turrium eius vocem dederunt in domo Domini sicut in die sollemni Lamentations 2.8 HETH cogitavit Dominus dissipare murum filiae Sion tetendit funiculum suum et non avertit manum suam a perditione luxitque antemurale et murus pariter dissipatus est Lamentations 2.9 TETH defixae sunt in terra portae eius perdidit et contrivit vectes eius regem eius et principes eius in gentibus non est lex et prophetae eius non invenerunt visionem a Domino Lamentations 2.10 IOTH sederunt in terra conticuerunt senes filiae Sion consperserunt cinere capita sua accincti sunt ciliciis abiecerunt in terra capita sua virgines Hierusalem Lamentations 2.11 CAPH defecerunt prae lacrimis oculi mei conturbata sunt viscera mea effusum est in terra iecur meum super contritione filiae populi mei cum deficeret parvulus et lactans in plateis oppidi Lamentations 2.12 LAMED matribus suis dixerunt ubi est triticum et vinum cum deficerent quasi vulnerati in plateis civitatis cum exhalarent animas suas in sinu matrum suarum Lamentations 2.13 MEM cui conparabo te vel cui adsimilabo te filia Hierusalem cui exaequabo te et consolabor te virgo filia Sion magna enim velut mare contritio tua quis medebitur tui Lamentations 2.14 NUN prophetae tui viderunt tibi falsa et stulta nec aperiebant iniquitatem tuam ut te ad paenitentiam provocarent viderunt autem tibi adsumptiones falsas et eiectiones Lamentations 2.15 SAMECH plauserunt super te manibus omnes transeuntes per viam sibilaverunt et moverunt caput suum super filiam Hierusalem haecine est urbs dicentes perfecti decoris gaudium universae terrae Lamentations 2.16 FE aperuerunt super te os suum omnes inimici tui sibilaverunt et fremuerunt dentibus dixerunt devoravimus en ista est dies quam expectabamus invenimus vidimus Lamentations 2.17 AIN fecit Dominus quae cogitavit conplevit sermonem suum quem praeceperat a diebus antiquis destruxit et non pepercit et laetificavit super te inimicum et exaltavit cornu hostium tuorum Lamentations 2.18 SADE clamavit cor eorum ad Dominum super muros filiae Sion deduc quasi torrentem lacrimas per diem et per noctem non des requiem tibi neque taceat pupilla oculi tui Lamentations 2.19 COPH consurge lauda in nocte in principio vigiliarum effunde sicut aqua cor tuum ante conspectum Domini leva ad eum manus tuas pro anima parvulorum tuorum qui defecerunt in fame in capite omnium conpetorum Lamentations 2.20 RES vide Domine et considera quem vindemiaveris ita ergone comedent mulieres fructum suum parvulos ad mensuram palmae si occidetur in sanctuario Domini sacerdos et propheta Lamentations 2.21 SEN iacuerunt in terra foris puer et senex virgines meae et iuvenes mei ceciderunt in gladio interfecisti in die furoris tui percussisti nec misertus es Lamentations 2.22 THAU vocasti quasi ad diem sollemnem qui terrerent me de circuitu et non fuit in die furoris Domini qui effugeret et relinqueretur quos educavi et enutrivi inimicus meus consumpsit eos

Lamentations : Caput 2

The Lamentation for Jerusalem in Chapter 2 of Lamentations

Chapter 2 of Lamentations delves deeper into the pain and lamentation over Jerusalem. This poignant text depicts God's wrath toward the city, illustrating Jerusalem's destruction as an act of divine judgment. Throughout its verses, we discover themes of desolation, famine, and the collapse of social and religious structures.

A Cry for Mercy

This chapter not only describes the tragedy; it also includes a desperate plea for God's mercy. In this spirit, we invite you to meditate on five biblical passages that shed light on the themes of judgment and supplication present in this intense chapter.

Revealing Bible Passages

Isaiah 51:17: "Awake, awake! Arise, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the Lord's hand the cup of his wrath, you who have drunk to the last drop of the cup that makes men stumble." This verse reflects the theme of God's wrath against Jerusalem, at the heart of Lamentations 2.

Micah 2:4: "In that day they will mock you; they will lament with derision, saying, 'We are utterly destroyed; the wealth of my people is divided. He has taken it from me; he has given our land to traitors.'" This passage echoes the lamentations and mockery described in Lamentations 2.

Jeremiah 14:17: "Say to them this word: 'Let my eyes weep night and day without ceasing, for the virgin daughter of my people has suffered a great destruction, a terrible and crushing blow.'" Jeremiah's lamentations over the destruction of his people reflect the tone and content of Lamentations 2.

Psalms 89:38-40: "But you have rejected him and refused him, and you have been angry with your anointed. You have broken the covenant with your servant and cast his crown to the ground. You have demolished all his walls and laid his fortifications in ruins." This psalm expresses themes similar to those of Lamentations 2, such as divine rejection and the destruction of Jerusalem.

Amos 5:2: "Virgin Israel fell, never to rise again; she lay helpless in her land, there was none to raise her up." The personification of Israel as a fallen virgin echoes the language and themes of Lamentations 2.

Conclusion

Through these passages, we are called to reflect on the gravity of Jerusalem's situation and the need to turn to God with a humble and repentant heart. May these meditations inspire us to seek God's mercy and understand the depth of His love, even in times of judgment.