The Bible

 

Lamentadoj 5

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1 Rememoru, ho Eternulo, kio farigxis al ni; Rigardu kaj vidu nian malhonoron!

2 Nia heredajxo transiris al fremduloj, Niaj domoj al aligentuloj.

3 Ni farigxis orfoj senpatraj, Niaj patrinoj estas kiel vidvinoj.

4 Nian akvon ni trinkas pro mono; Nian lignon ni ricevas nur pro pago.

5 Oni pelas nin je nia kolo; Ni lacigxis, sed oni ne permesas al Ni ripozi.

6 Al Egiptujo ni etendis la manon, Al Asirio, por satigxi per pano.

7 Niaj patroj pekis, sed ili jam ne ekzistas; Kaj ni devas suferi pro iliaj malbonagoj.

8 Sklavoj regas super ni; Kaj neniu liberigas nin el iliaj manoj.

9 Kun dangxero por nia vivo ni akiras nian panon, Pro la glavo en la dezerto.

10 Nia hauxto varmegigxis kiel forno, Por la kruela malsato.

11 La virinojn en Cion ili senhonorigis, La virgulinojn en la urboj de Judujo.

12 La princoj estas pendigitaj je siaj manoj; La maljunulojn oni ne respektis.

13 La junuloj devas porti muelsxtonojn; La knaboj falas sub la lignosxargxoj.

14 La maljunuloj jam ne sidas cxe la pordegoj, La junuloj jam ne kantas.

15 Malaperis la gajeco de nia koro; Niaj dancrondoj aliformigxis en funebron.

16 Defalis la krono de nia kapo; Ho ve al ni, ke ni pekis!

17 Pro tio senfortigxis nia koro, Pro tio senlumigxis niaj okuloj:

18 Pro la monto Cion, ke gxi farigxis dezerta, Ke vulpoj vagas sur gxi.

19 Sed Vi, ho Eternulo, kiu restas eterne Kaj kies trono staras de generacio al generacio,

20 Kial Vi forgesis nin kvazaux por eterne, Forlasis nin por longa tempo?

21 Reirigu nin, ho Eternulo, al Vi, ke ni revenu; Renovigu niajn tagojn kiel en la tempo antauxa.

22 CXar cxu Vi nin tute forpusxis? Vi tre forte ekkoleris kontraux ni.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #764

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764. "For she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen and am not a widow, and will not see grief.'" This symbolically means that this is the lot of those Roman Catholics, because owing to their elation of heart over their dominion, and exultation of spirit over their riches, they possess the confidence and conviction that they will dominate forever and defend themselves, and that they can never lose what they have.

To say in her heart means, symbolically, to possess confidence owing to their elation of heart over their dominion, and a conviction owing to their exultation of spirit over their riches. Her saying, "I sit as queen," means symbolically that they will have dominion, in this case forever, because the declaration follows, "I will not see grief." Her saying, "I am not a widow," means symbolically that they will defend themselves. A widow, being without a man, symbolizes someone without protection. The terms queen and widow are used, and not king or man, because the reference is to Babylon as the church. And her saying, "I will not see grief," means symbolically that they can never lose these two, dominion and riches. That from this arises their grief after death may be seen just above in no. 763.

[2] Almost the same statements are made of Babylon in Isaiah:

...you shall no longer be called The Lady of Kingdoms... You said (in your heart), "I shall be a lady forever," ...saying in your heart, "I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children." But these two things shall come to you... in one day: the loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you... because of the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments. You have trusted in your wickedness. You have said, "No one sees me." Your wisdom... led you astray, when you have said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one else besides me." Therefore... devastation shall come upon you suddenly... (Isaiah 47:5, 7-11)

A widow in the Word means someone without protection, for in the spiritual sense a widow symbolizes someone who possesses goodness and no truth, for a man symbolizes truth, and his wife goodness. Thus a widow symbolizes goodness without truth, and goodness without truth lacks protection, for it is truth that protects goodness. A widow has this symbolism in the Word where one is mentioned, as in Isaiah 9:14-15, 17; 10:1-2; Malachi 3:5; Psalms 68:5; 146:7-9; Exodus 22:21-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; 27:19; Matthew 23:14; Luke 4:25; 20:47.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.