Ver. He all our pleasant ones devour'd, In Zion's daughter's tents he pour'd HE. 5 All Ifra'l's palaces and stays, Backfliding Judah too her share For woful lamentations there 6 He like a garden-tent hath pull'd His oft affembling courts annull'd, And hath defpis'd both king and priests ZAIN. 7 The Lord his altar did difown, His fanctuary abhor; Shut up, and fet her foes upon Her palace walls to roar: CHETH. 8 God Zion's walls and ramparts all, He therefore going on hath made TETH. Ver. Sunk into rubbish are her gates, 9 Yea, now her king and potentates, The law's no more, which once her mind Her feers mourn, her prophets find JOD. 10 Now, Zion's elders on the ground They caft up duft their heads around, Proud dames who did, in pompous weeds, Ev'n Salem's virgins hang their heads II With tears confum'd are both mine eyes, Babes in the streets for hunger faint, 12 The young ones to their mothers cry, "Of corn and wine, and fuch fupply Scarce had they spoke, till in th' arrest, They on their moaning mother's breast, MEM. Ver. To match thy cafe, O Salem fair! 13 'Twere eafe, could I thy woes compare O Zion! great's thy breach, that grows NUN. 14 Thy prophets falfe have feen for thee But have for thee falfe burdens feen, And fmoothing vice thy guilt to fkreen, SAMECH. 15 All paffengers clap hands at thee, 'Gainft Salem they invey; Thy fhake their heads contempt'ously, And mock, and hifs, and fay, "Is this the city fo renown'd "We see in rubbish hurl'd, "The beauty with perfection crown'd "The joy of all the world?" PE. 16 Thy cruel foes with wide mouth bray, 'Gainft thee their spite avow; They gnash the teeth, and hiffing say, "We have devour'd her now; "This furely is the day that we Expected for her fall; "We've found it now, and gladly fee "Our triumph in her thrall." AIN. 17 The Lord hath done what he ordain'd, As he of old declar'd; Fulfill'd the word of his command, Cast down, and hath not spar'd: Ver. O'er thee he made the foe in scorn, 18 Their heart cry'd to the Lord, and faid, Let tears both day and night be shed, Allow thyself no reft, and let Корн. 19 Arife, and each night watch prevent, Thine heart in floods of water vent For thy poor young ones life intreat, RESH. 20 This thou haft done; mind, Lord, to whom The fpan-long fruit of their own womb, And fhall, alas! the reverend train And confecrated race, The priest and prophet both be flain; SHIN. 21 Both young and old along the ground Foes are but weapons of thy wrath, Thou flew'ft, thou kill'dft them, Lord, In thy avenging day that hath TAU. Ver. Thou haft, as in a folemn day, 22 I My terrors call'd around, That thus when wrath divine made way, None left; yea, thofe whom I, with care, The faithful bewail their Calamities, viewing them as the Fruits and Effects of God's Difpleafure. By the Mercies of GOD they encourage their Hope, acknowledging bis fuftice, praying for Deliverance, and Vengeance on their Enemies. ALEPH. I'M by the rod of wrath divine The man that hath feen wo; 2 He led and carried me and mine 3 To fhades of darkness low, But not unto a lightfome path; He's furely turn'd, his hand in wrath BETH. 4 My flesh and skin of young and fair, Old and decay'd he made; 5 Did break my bones; and building rear, He me encompafs'd and entwin'd, With gall and travel fore: 6 In places dark he me enflrin'd, As men long dead before. GIMEL. 7 He hedg'd me in, I can't get out; His heavy chain I bear: 8 My pray'r he, when I cry and shout, Shuts out, and fcorns to hear. |