The Babylonian Exile

Caph. For if he hath cast off, he will also have mercy, according to the multitude of his mercies.

Caph. For he hath not willingly afflicted, nor cast off the children of men.

Lamed. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the land,

Lamed. To turn aside the judgment of a man before the face of the most High,

Lamed. To destroy a man wrongfully in his judgment, the Lord hath not approved.

Mem. Who is he that hath commanded a thing to be done, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Mem. Shall not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the Highest?

Mem. Why hath a living man murmured, man suffering for his sins?

Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord.

Nun. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the heavens.

Nun. We have done wickedly, and provoked thee to wrath: therefore thou art inexorable.

Samech. Thou hast covered in thy wrath, and hast struck us: thou hast killed and hast not spared.

Samech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may not pass through.

Samech. Thou hast made me as an outcast, and refuse in the midst of the people.

Phe. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

Phe. Prophecy is become to us a fear, and a snare, and destruction.

Phe. My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there was no rest:

Ain. Till the Lord regarded and looked down from the heavens.

Ain. My eye hath wasted my soul because of all the daughters of my city.

Sade. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, without cause.

Sade. My life is fallen into the pit, and they have laid a stone over me.

Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off.

Coph. I have called upon thy name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.

Coph. Thou hast heard my voice: turn not away thy ear from my sighs, and cries.