Jerusalem prays; Law’s threats proved true; priest slain in sanctuary
The prophet having exhorted, Jerusalem was persuaded and says toward God: “do not turn your face away from me,” “look upon me and have mercy on me,” “do not convict me in your wrath, nor discipline me in your anger.” The blow is greater than human nature. I know I transgressed the law and the penalties from there in which is also “you will eat the offspring of your belly, flesh of your sons and your daughters.” I was thinking the words were as far as a threat; Lord, that “your law is truth.” And I had not heard of a slaughter of priest and prophet in the midst of a sanctuary.
Greek
Klagel. Jerem. 2, 20. Τοῦ προφήτου παραινέσαντος, Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐπείσθη καὶ λέγει πρὸς τὸν θεόν· «μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπ' ἐμοῦ«, «ἐπίβλεψον ἐπ' ἐμὲ καὶ ἐλέησόν με«, «μὴ τῷ θυμῷ σου ἐλέγξῃς με, μηδὲ τῇ ὀργῇ σου παιδεύθῃς με. μείζων ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως ἡ πληγή. οἶδα παραβᾶσα τὸν νόμον καὶ τοῖς ἐντῦθεν ἐπιτιμίοις ἐν οἶς ἐστι καὶ τὸ «φαγῇ τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας σου, κρέα υἱῶν καὶ θυγατέρων σου. ἐνόμιζον ἓως ἀπειλῆς εἶναι τὰ ῥήματα· κύριε, ὅτι «ὁ νόμος σου ἀλήθεια. ἱερέως δὲ καὶ προφήτου σφαγὴν οὐκ ἐπυθόμην ἐν μέσῳ νεώ.
About this text
Origen, Fragments on Lamentations. Original English Translation from the Greek (Klostermann).
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.