Cheek struck; ash-bread; Job’s voice of despair
With a pebble, he says, or by number—being struck upon the cheek according to each tooth—or with a hard stone. And according to David he also says: “I was eating ash as my bread,” showing that he was not even taking bread with pleasure because of affliction. It was not possible, then, for the soul to be in peace—herself being troubled and moreover seeing outward tumults, inward fights. For which reason, having hoped nothing useful, I uttered Job’s voices: “mercy has renounced me, and my hope from the Lord.” For it was not possible to conquer the surrounding terrors.
Greek
Klagel. Jerem. 3, 16—18. Ψήφῳ φησὶν ἢ ἀριθμῷ, καθ’ ἔκαστον ὀδόντα παιομένου κατὰ τῆς σιαγόνος, ἢ λίθῳ σκληρῷ. καὶ κατὰ τὸν Δαβὶδ δέ φησι· Μὰ σποδοῦ ἄρτον μου ἥσθιον<, τὸ μηδὲ ἄρτον σὺν ἡδονῇ λαμβάνειν δηλῶν ὑπὸ θλίψεως. οὐκ ἦν οὖν εἶναι τὴν ψυχὴν ἐν εἰρήνῃ, αὐτὴν ταραττομένην καὶ προσέτι βλέπουσαν ἔξωθεν θορύβους, ἔσωθεν μάχας. διὸ μηδὲν ἐλπίσας χρηστόν, τὰς Ἰὼβ ἀφῆκα φωνάς· «ἀπείπατό με ἔλεος, καὶ ἡ ἐλπίς μου παρὰ κυρίου. οὐ γὰρ ἡν νικῆσαι τὰ περιεστῶτα δεινά.
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.