Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Ver. 9. Be afflicted] ταλαιπωρησατε. or, Be miserable; ye are so, but see yourselves to be so. Or, afflict yourselves, viz. with voluntary sorrows for your sins. See that ye be active here.
And mourn] Savourly and soakingly, with a deep and downright sorrow, so as a man would do in the death of his dearest friend. The Greek word, πενθησατε, imports a funeral grief.
And weep] In judgment at least, and then, dry sorrow may go as far as wet, where tears will not come. But if it be possible, look not upon sin with dry eyes; point every sin with a tear.
Let your laughter be turned] Turn all the streams into this one channel, that may drive the mill, that may grind the heart. Meal was offered of old, and not whole corn.
And your joy to heaviness] κατηφεια, a such as makes a man hang down his head, and go heavily through grief and shame.
a Tristitia cum vultus demissione. Budaeus.