For behold the sovereign the Lord of hosts shall take away from Jerusalem, and from Juda the valiant and the strong, the whole strength of bread, and the whole strength of water.

Ecce enim Dominator, Dominus exercituum, auferet a Jerusalem et a Juda validum et fortem, omne robur panis, et omne robor aquæ;

See where the Lord of hosts, our Master, takes away from Jerusalem and from Juda all that was valiant and strong, all the support they had against famine and thirst!

The strong man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the cunning man, and the ancient.

fortem, et virum bellatorem, judicem, et prophetam, et ariolum, et senem;

Gone the hero and the warrior, judge and prophet, diviner and senator,

The captain over fifty, and the honourable in countenance, and the counsellor, and the architect, and the skilful in eloquent speech.

principem super quinquaginta, et honorabilem vultu et consiliarium, et sapientem de architectis, et prudentem eloquii mystici.

captain of the watch, and nobleman, and counsellor, and skilful workman, and master of charms.

And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate shall rule over them.

Et dabo pueros principes eorum, et effeminati dominabuntur eis;

Only boys will be left to rule, and wantonness shall govern all;

And the people shall rush one upon another, and every man against his neighbour: the child shall make a tumult against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

et irruet populus, vir ad virum, et unusquisque ad proximum suum; tumultuabitur puer contra senem, et ignobilis contra nobilem.

the citizens coming to blows, neighbour falling out with neighbour; for age and rank there shall be no reverence.

For a man shall take hold of his brother, one of the house of his father, saying: Thou hast a garment, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand.

Apprehendet enim vir fratrem suum, domesticum patris sui: Vestimentum tibi est, princeps esto noster, ruina autem hæc sub manu tua.

Here is one catching hold of his own brother, his own house-mate, What (says he) hast thou a coat to thy back? Be our chieftain, then; take these ruins into thy keeping.

In that day he shall answer, saying: I am no healer, and in my house there is no bread, nor clothing: make me not ruler of the people.

Respondebit in die illa, dicens: Non sum medicus, et in domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum: nolite constituere me principem populi.

And the other answers, Who, I? Nay, I have no doctor’s skill. As for my house, there is neither bread nor coat in it; ruler thou shalt never make of me.

For Jerusalem is ruined, and Juda is fallen: because their tongue, and their devices are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his majesty.

Ruit enim Jerusalem, et Judas concidit, quia lingua eorum et adinventiones eorum contra Dominum, ut provocarent oculos majestatis ejus.

Jerusalem in ruins, Juda lying prostrate! Whispering and scheming of theirs defied the Lord, challenged his divine scrutiny.

The shew of their countenance hath answered them: and they have proclaimed abroad their sin as Sodom, and they have not hid it: woe to their souls, for evils are rendered to them.

Agnitio vultus eorum respondit eis; et peccatum suum quasi Sodoma prædicaverunt, nec absconderunt. Væ animæ eorum, quoniam reddita sunt eis mala!

Their hang-dog looks betray them; they publish their guilt abroad, like the men of Sodom, making no secret of it. Ill-fated souls, retribution has come upon them.

Say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit of his doings.

Dicite justo quoniam bene, quoniam fructum adinventionum suarum comedet.

For the just, courage! His reward is earned;

Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

Væ impio in malum! retributio enim manuum ejus fiet ei.

but woe betide the sinner! He shall be repaid for his ill deeds.

As for my people, their oppressors have stripped them, and women have ruled over them. O my people, they that call thee blessed, the same deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy steps.

Populum meum exactores sui spoliaverunt, et mulieres dominatæ sunt eis. Popule meus, qui te beatum dicunt, ipsi te decipiunt, et viam gressuum tuorum dissipant.

My people has been despoiled by the tyrants that rule it; women have gained power over it; those who call thee happy, my people, are deceiving thee, are luring thee into false paths.

The Lord standeth up to judge, and he standeth to judge the people.

Stat ad judicandum Dominus, et stat ad judicandos populos.

Even now the Lord stands ready to hold his assize, waits there to pass judgement on all nations.

The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and its princes: for you have devoured the vineyard, and the spoil of the poor is in your house.

Dominus ad judicium veniet cum senibus populi sui, et principibus ejus; vos enim depasti estis vineam, et rapina pauperis in domo vestra.

The Lord will enter into a reckoning with the senators and the rulers of his people: You have made spoil of the vineyard, your houses are full of the plunder you have taken from the oppressed;

Why do you consume my people, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord the God of hosts.

Quare atteritis populum meum, et facies pauperum commolitis? dicit Dominus Deus exercituum.

what means it, that you ride roughshod over my people, that you spurn the right of friendless folk? Such warning he gives you, the Lord God of hosts.

And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and have walked with stretched out necks, and wanton glances of their eyes, and made a noise as they walked with their feet and moved in a set pace:

Et dixit Dominus: Pro eo quod elevatæ sunt filiæ Sion, et ambulaverunt extento collo, et nutibus oculorum ibant, et plaudebant, ambulabant pedibus suis, et composito gradu incedebant;

This, too, the Lord says: See what airs they put on, the women-folk of Sion, walk head in air, look about them with glancing eyes, click the trappings on their feet with mincing steps. Ay, but the Lord has his doom ready for them;

The Lord will make bald the crown of the head of the daughters of Sion, and the Lord will discover their hair.

decalvabit Dominus verticem filiarum Sion, et Dominus crinem earum nudabit.

bald of head and bare of temple the women of Sion shall know it.

In that day the Lord will take away the ornaments of shoes, and little moons,

In die illa auferet Dominus ornamentum calceamentum,

In one day the Lord will sweep away all their finery, the shoes with the rest; locket,

And chains and necklaces, and bracelets, and bonnets,

et lunulas, et torques, et monilia, et armillas, et mitras,

and collar, necklace and bracelet and veil;

And bodkins, and ornaments of the legs, and tablets, and sweet balls, and earrings,

et discriminalia, et periscelidas, et murenulas, et olfactoriola, et inaures,

hair-pin, ankle-ring, chain, scent-box, pendant,

And rings, and jewels hanging on the forehead,

et annulos, et gemmas in fronte pendentes,

signet-ring and nose-ring;

And changes of apparel, and short cloaks, and fine linen, and crisping pins,

et mutatoria, et palliola, et linteamina, et acus,

gala dress and gown and scarf, bodkin

And looking-glasses, and lawns, and headbands, and fine veils.

et specula, et sindones, et vittas, et theristra.

and mirror and shawl and riband and kerchief.

And instead of a sweet smell there shall be stench, and instead of a girdle, a cord, and instead of curled hair, baldness, and instead of a stomacher, haircloth.

Et erit pro suavi odore fœtor, et pro zona funiculus, et pro crispanti crine calvitium, et pro fascia pectorali cilicium.

There will be new fashions then; stench for scent, hempen rope for waist-band, baldness for curls, and hair shirt for stomacher.

Thy fairest men also shall fall by the sword, and thy valiant ones in battle.

Pulcherrimi quoque viri tui gladio cadent, et fortes tui in prælio.

Of the men-folk, too, all that is fairest shall fall by the sword, all that is bravest, slain in battle.

And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall sit desolate on the ground.

Et mœrebunt atque lugebunt portæ ejus, et desolata in terra sedebit.

See where she sits on the ground desolate, every gateway of hers full of sorrow and lament!