Lamentations 1

1 How deserted lies the city,

once so full of people!

How like a widow is she,

who once was great among the nations!

She who was queen among the provinces

has now become a slave.

2 Bitterly she weeps at night,

tears are on her cheeks.

Among all her lovers

there is no one to comfort her.

All her friends have betrayed her;

they have become her enemies.

3 After affliction and harsh labor,

Judah has gone into exile.

She dwells among the nations;

she finds no resting place.

All who pursue her have overtaken her

in the midst of her distress.

4 The roads to Zion mourn,

for no one comes to her appointed festivals.

All her gateways are desolate,

her priests groan,

her young women grieve,

and she is in bitter anguish.

5 Her foes have become her masters;

her enemies are at ease.

The Lord has brought her grief

because of her many sins.

Her children have gone into exile,

captive before the foe.

6 All the splendor has departed

from Daughter Zion.

Her princes are like deer

that find no pasture;

in weakness they have fled

before the pursuer.

7 In the days of her affliction and wandering

Jerusalem remembers all the treasures

that were hers in days of old.

When her people fell into enemy hands,

there was no one to help her.

Her enemies looked at her

and laughed at her destruction.

8 Jerusalem has sinned greatly

and so has become unclean.

All who honored her despise her,

for they have all seen her naked;

she herself groans

and turns away.

9 Her filthiness clung to her skirts;

she did not consider her future.

Her fall was astounding;

there was none to comfort her.

“Look, Lord, on my affliction,

for the enemy has triumphed.”

10 The enemy laid hands

on all her treasures;

she saw pagan nations

enter her sanctuary—

those you had forbidden

to enter your assembly.

11 All her people groan

as they search for bread;

they barter their treasures for food

to keep themselves alive.

“Look, Lord, and consider,

for I am despised.”

12 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look around and see.

Is any suffering like my suffering

that was inflicted on me,

that the Lord brought on me

in the day of his fierce anger?

13 “From on high he sent fire,

sent it down into my bones.

He spread a net for my feet

and turned me back.

He made me desolate,

faint all the day long.

14 “My sins have been bound into a yoke;

by his hands they were woven together.

They have been hung on my neck,

and the Lord has sapped my strength.

He has given me into the hands

of those I cannot withstand.

15 “The Lord has rejected

all the warriors in my midst;

he has summoned an army against me

to crush my young men.

In his winepress the Lord has trampled

Virgin Daughter Judah.

16 “This is why I weep

and my eyes overflow with tears.

No one is near to comfort me,

no one to restore my spirit.

My children are destitute

because the enemy has prevailed.”

17 Zion stretches out her hands,

but there is no one to comfort her.

The Lord has decreed for Jacob

that his neighbors become his foes;

Jerusalem has become

an unclean thing among them.

18 “The Lord is righteous,

yet I rebelled against his command.

Listen, all you peoples;

look on my suffering.

My young men and young women

have gone into exile.

19 “I called to my allies

but they betrayed me.

My priests and my elders

perished in the city

while they searched for food

to keep themselves alive.

20 “See, Lord, how distressed I am!

I am in torment within,

and in my heart I am disturbed,

for I have been most rebellious.

Outside, the sword bereaves;

inside, there is only death.

21 “People have heard my groaning,

but there is no one to comfort me.

All my enemies have heard of my distress;

they rejoice at what you have done.

May you bring the day you have announced

so they may become like me.

22 “Let all their wickedness come before you;

deal with them

as you have dealt with me

because of all my sins.

My groans are many

and my heart is faint.”

1 How lonely sits the city

that was full of people!

How like a widow has she become,

she who was great among the nations!

She who was a princess among the provinces

has become a slave.

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,

with tears on her cheeks;

among all her lovers

she has none to comfort her;

all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;

they have become her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into exile because of affliction

and hard servitude;

she dwells now among the nations,

but finds no resting place;

her pursuers have all overtaken her

in the midst of her distress.

4 The roads to Zion mourn,

for none come to the festival;

all her gates are desolate;

her priests groan;

her virgins have been afflicted,

and she herself suffers bitterly.

5 Her foes have become the head;

her enemies prosper,

because the Lord has afflicted her

for the multitude of her transgressions;

her children have gone away,

captives before the foe.

6 From the daughter of Zion

all her majesty has departed.

Her princes have become like deer

that find no pasture;

they fled without strength

before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembers

in the days of her affliction and wandering

all the precious things

that were hers from days of old.

When her people fell into the hand of the foe,

and there was none to help her,

her foes gloated over her;

they mocked at her downfall.

8 Jerusalem sinned grievously;

therefore she became filthy;

all who honored her despise her,

for they have seen her nakedness;

she herself groans

and turns her face away.

9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts;

she took no thought of her future;

therefore her fall is terrible;

she has no comforter.

“O Lord, behold my affliction,

for the enemy has triumphed!”

10 The enemy has stretched out his hands

over all her precious things;

for she has seen the nations

enter her sanctuary,

those whom you forbade

to enter your congregation.

11 All her people groan

as they search for bread;

they trade their treasures for food

to revive their strength.

“Look, O Lord, and see,

for I am despised.”

12 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look and see

if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

which was brought upon me,

which the Lord inflicted

on the day of his fierce anger.

13 “From on high he sent fire;

into my bones he made it descend;

he spread a net for my feet;

he turned me back;

he has left me stunned,

faint all the day long.

14 “My transgressions were bound into a yoke;

by his hand they were fastened together;

they were set upon my neck;

he caused my strength to fail;

the Lord gave me into the hands

of those whom I cannot withstand.

15 “The Lord rejected

all my mighty men in my midst;

he summoned an assembly against me

to crush my young men;

the Lord has trodden as in a winepress

the virgin daughter of Judah.

16 “For these things I weep;

my eyes flow with tears;

for a comforter is far from me,

one to revive my spirit;

my children are desolate,

for the enemy has prevailed.”

17 Zion stretches out her hands,

but there is none to comfort her;

the Lord has commanded against Jacob

that his neighbors should be his foes;

Jerusalem has become

a filthy thing among them.

18 “The Lord is in the right,

for I have rebelled against his word;

but hear, all you peoples,

and see my suffering;

my young women and my young men

have gone into captivity.

19 “I called to my lovers,

but they deceived me;

my priests and elders

perished in the city,

while they sought food

to revive their strength.

20 “Look, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my stomach churns;

my heart is wrung within me,

because I have been very rebellious.

In the street the sword bereaves;

in the house it is like death.

21 “They heard my groaning,

yet there is no one to comfort me.

All my enemies have heard of my trouble;

they are glad that you have done it.

You have brought the day you announced;

now let them be as I am.

22 “Let all their evildoing come before you,

and deal with them

as you have dealt with me

because of all my transgressions;

for my groans are many,

and my heart is faint.”

1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!

How is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations,

And princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks:

Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her:

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude:

She dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest:

All her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts:

All her gates are desolate: her priests sigh,

Her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper;

For the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions:

Her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed:

Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture,

And they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries

All her pleasant things that she had in the days of old,

When her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her:

The adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed:

All that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness:

Yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end;

Therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter.

O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things:

For she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary,

Whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

11 All her people sigh, they seek bread;

They have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul:

See, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile.

12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see

If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me,

Wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them:

He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back:

He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand:

They are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall,

The Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

15 The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me:

He hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men:

The Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water,

Because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me:

My children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her:

The Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him:

Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

18 The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment:

Hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow:

My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me:

My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city,

While they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

20 Behold, O Lord; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled;

Mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled:

Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

21 They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me:

All mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it:

Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.

22 Let all their wickedness come before thee;

And do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions:

For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

1 Jerusalem, once so full of people,

is now deserted.

She who was once great among the nations

now sits alone like a widow.

Once the queen of all the earth,

she is now a slave.

2 She sobs through the night;

tears stream down her cheeks.

Among all her lovers,

there is no one left to comfort her.

All her friends have betrayed her

and become her enemies.

3 Judah has been led away into captivity,

oppressed with cruel slavery.

She lives among foreign nations

and has no place of rest.

Her enemies have chased her down,

and she has nowhere to turn.

4 The roads to Jerusalem are in mourning,

for crowds no longer come to celebrate the festivals.

The city gates are silent,

her priests groan,

her young women are crying—

how bitter is her fate!

5 Her oppressors have become her masters,

and her enemies prosper,

for the Lord has punished Jerusalem

for her many sins.

Her children have been captured

and taken away to distant lands.

6 All the majesty of beautiful Jerusalem

has been stripped away.

Her princes are like starving deer

searching for pasture.

They are too weak to run

from the pursuing enemy.

7 In the midst of her sadness and wandering,

Jerusalem remembers her ancient splendor.

But now she has fallen to her enemy,

and there is no one to help her.

Her enemy struck her down

and laughed as she fell.

8 Jerusalem has sinned greatly,

so she has been tossed away like a filthy rag.

All who once honored her now despise her,

for they have seen her stripped naked and humiliated.

All she can do is groan

and hide her face.

9 She defiled herself with immorality

and gave no thought to her future.

Now she lies in the gutter

with no one to lift her out.

“Lord, see my misery,” she cries.

“The enemy has triumphed.”

10 The enemy has plundered her completely,

taking every precious thing she owns.

She has seen foreigners violate her sacred Temple,

the place the Lord had forbidden them to enter.

11 Her people groan as they search for bread.

They have sold their treasures for food to stay alive.

“O Lord, look,” she mourns,

“and see how I am despised.

12 “Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine,

which the Lord brought on me

when he erupted in fierce anger.

13 “He has sent fire from heaven that burns in my bones.

He has placed a trap in my path and turned me back.

He has left me devastated,

racked with sickness all day long.

14 “He wove my sins into ropes

to hitch me to a yoke of captivity.

The Lord sapped my strength and turned me over to my enemies;

I am helpless in their hands.

15 “The Lord has treated my mighty men

with contempt.

At his command a great army has come

to crush my young warriors.

The Lord has trampled his beloved city

like grapes are trampled in a winepress.

16 “For all these things I weep;

tears flow down my cheeks.

No one is here to comfort me;

any who might encourage me are far away.

My children have no future,

for the enemy has conquered us.”

17 Jerusalem reaches out for help,

but no one comforts her.

Regarding his people Israel,

the Lord has said,

“Let their neighbors be their enemies!

Let them be thrown away like a filthy rag!”

18 “The Lord is right,” Jerusalem says,

“for I rebelled against him.

Listen, people everywhere;

look upon my anguish and despair,

for my sons and daughters

have been taken captive to distant lands.

19 “I begged my allies for help,

but they betrayed me.

My priests and leaders

starved to death in the city,

even as they searched for food

to save their lives.

20 “Lord, see my anguish!

My heart is broken

and my soul despairs,

for I have rebelled against you.

In the streets the sword kills,

and at home there is only death.

21 “Others heard my groans,

but no one turned to comfort me.

When my enemies heard about my troubles,

they were happy to see what you had done.

Oh, bring the day you promised,

when they will suffer as I have suffered.

22 “Look at all their evil deeds, Lord.

Punish them,

as you have punished me

for all my sins.

My groans are many,

and I am sick at heart.”

1 How lonely sits the city

That was full of people!

How like a widow is she,

Who was great among the nations!

The princess among the provinces

Has become a slave!

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,

Her tears are on her cheeks;

Among all her lovers

She has none to comfort her.

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;

They have become her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into captivity,

Under affliction and hard servitude;

She dwells among the nations,

She finds no rest;

All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits.

4 The roads to Zion mourn

Because no one comes to the set feasts.

All her gates are desolate;

Her priests sigh,

Her virgins are afflicted,

And she is in bitterness.

5 Her adversaries have become the master,

Her enemies prosper;

For the Lord has afflicted her

Because of the multitude of her transgressions.

Her children have gone into captivity before the enemy.

6 And from the daughter of Zion

All her splendor has departed.

Her princes have become like deer

That find no pasture,

That flee without strength

Before the pursuer.

7 In the days of her affliction and roaming,

Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant things

That she had in the days of old.

When her people fell into the hand of the enemy,

With no one to help her,

The adversaries saw her

And mocked at her downfall.

8 Jerusalem has sinned gravely,

Therefore she has become vile.

All who honored her despise her

Because they have seen her nakedness;

Yes, she sighs and turns away.

9 Her uncleanness is in her skirts;

She did not consider her destiny;

Therefore her collapse was awesome;

She had no comforter.

“O Lord, behold my affliction,

For the enemy is exalted!”

10 The adversary has spread his hand

Over all her pleasant things;

For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary,

Those whom You commanded

Not to enter Your assembly.

11 All her people sigh,

They seek bread;

They have given their valuables for food to restore life.

“See, O Lord, and consider,

For I am scorned.”

12 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Behold and see

If there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

Which has been brought on me,

Which the Lord has inflicted

In the day of His fierce anger.

13 “From above He has sent fire into my bones,

And it overpowered them;

He has spread a net for my feet

And turned me back;

He has made me desolate

And faint all the day.

14 “The yoke of my transgressions was bound;

They were woven together by His hands,

And thrust upon my neck.

He made my strength fail;

The Lord delivered me into the hands of those whom I am not able to withstand.

15 “The Lord has trampled underfoot all my mighty men in my midst;

He has called an assembly against me

To crush my young men;

The Lord trampled as in a winepress

The virgin daughter of Judah.

16 “For these things I weep;

My eye, my eye overflows with water;

Because the comforter, who should restore my life,

Is far from me.

My children are desolate

Because the enemy prevailed.”

17 Zion spreads out her hands,

But no one comforts her;

The Lord has commanded concerning Jacob

That those around him become his adversaries;

Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.

18 “The Lord is righteous,

For I rebelled against His commandment.

Hear now, all peoples,

And behold my sorrow;

My virgins and my young men

Have gone into captivity.

19 “I called for my lovers,

But they deceived me;

My priests and my elders

Breathed their last in the city,

While they sought food

To restore their life.

20 “See, O Lord, that I am in distress;

My soul is troubled;

My heart is overturned within me,

For I have been very rebellious.

Outside the sword bereaves,

At home it is like death.

21 “They have heard that I sigh,

But no one comforts me.

All my enemies have heard of my trouble;

They are glad that You have done it.

Bring on the day You have announced,

That they may become like me.

22 “Let all their wickedness come before You,

And do to them as You have done to me

For all my transgressions;

For my sighs are many,

And my heart is faint.”

1 Jerusalem once was full of people,

but now the city is empty.

Jerusalem once was a great city among the nations,

but now she is like a widow.

She was like a queen of all the other cities,

but now she is a slave.

2 She cries loudly at night,

and tears are on her cheeks.

There is no one to comfort her;

all who loved her are gone.

All her friends have turned against her

and are now her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into captivity

where she suffers and works hard.

She lives among other nations,

but she has found no rest.

Those who chased her caught her

when she was in trouble.

4 The roads to Jerusalem are sad,

because no one comes for the feasts.

No one passes through her gates.

Her priests groan,

her young women are suffering,

and Jerusalem suffers terribly.

5 Her foes are now her masters.

Her enemies enjoy the wealth they have taken.

The Lord is punishing her

for her many sins.

Her children have gone away

as captives of the enemy.

6 The beauty of Jerusalem

has gone away.

Her rulers are like deer

that cannot find food.

They are weak

and run from the hunters.

7 Jerusalem is suffering and homeless.

She remembers all the good things

from the past.

But her people were defeated by the enemy,

and there was no one to help her.

When her enemies saw her,

they laughed to see her ruined.

8 Jerusalem sinned terribly,

so she has become unclean.

Those who honored her now hate her,

because they have seen her nakedness.

She groans

and turns away.

9 She made herself dirty by her sins

and did not think about what would happen to her.

Her defeat was surprising,

and no one could comfort her.

She says, “Lord, see how I suffer,

because the enemy has won.”

10 The enemy reached out and took

all her precious things.

She even saw foreigners

enter her Temple.

The Lord had commanded foreigners

never to enter the meeting place of his people.

11 All of Jerusalem’s people groan,

looking for bread.

They are trading their precious things for food

so they can stay alive.

The city says, “Look, Lord, and see.

I am hated.”

12 Jerusalem says, “You who pass by on the road don’t seem to care.

Come, look at me and see:

Is there any pain like mine?

Is there any pain like that he has caused me?

The Lord has punished me

on the day of his great anger.

13 “He sent fire from above

that went down into my bones.

He stretched out a net for my feet

and turned me back.

He made me so sad and lonely

that I am weak all day.

14 “He has noticed my sins;

they are tied together by his hands;

they hang around my neck.

He has turned my strength into weakness.

The Lord has handed me over

to those who are stronger than I.

15 “The Lord has rejected

all my mighty men inside my walls.

He brought an army against me

to destroy my young men.

As if in a winepress, the Lord has crushed

the capital city of Judah.

16 “I cry about these things;

my eyes overflow with tears.

There is no one near to comfort me,

no one who can give me strength again.

My children are left sad and lonely,

because the enemy has won.”

17 Jerusalem reaches out her hands,

but there is no one to comfort her.

The Lord commanded the people of Jacob

to be surrounded by their enemies.

Jerusalem is now unclean

like those around her.

18 Jerusalem says, “The Lord is right,

but I refused to obey him.

Listen, all you people,

and look at my pain.

My young women and men

have gone into captivity.

19 “I called out to my friends,

but they turned against me.

My priests and my elders

have died in the city

while looking for food

to stay alive.

20 “Look at me, Lord. I am upset

and greatly troubled.

My heart is troubled,

because I have been so stubborn.

Out in the streets, the sword kills;

inside the houses, death destroys.

21 “People have heard my groaning,

and there is no one to comfort me.

All my enemies have heard of my trouble,

and they are happy you have done this to me.

Now bring that day you have announced

so that my enemies will be like me.

22 “Look at all their evil.

Do to them what you have done to me

because of all my sins.

I groan over and over again,

and I am afraid.”

1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!

She is become as a widow, that was great among the nations!

She that was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!

2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks;

Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her:

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies.

3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude;

She dwelleth among the nations, she findeth no rest:

All her persecutors overtook her within the straits.

4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly;

All her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh:

Her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.

5 Her adversaries are become the head, her enemies prosper;

For Jehovah hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions:

Her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary.

6 And from the daughter of Zion all her majesty is departed:

Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture,

And they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembereth in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that were from the days of old:

When her people fell into the hand of the adversary, and none did help her,

The adversaries saw her, they did mock at her desolations.

8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is become as an unclean thing;

All that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness:

Yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

9 Her filthiness was in her skirts; she remembered not her latter end;

Therefore is she come down wonderfully; she hath no comforter:

Behold, O Jehovah, my affliction; for the enemy hath magnified himself.

10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things:

For she hath seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary,

Concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thine assembly.

11 All her people sigh, they seek bread;

They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul:

See, O Jehovah, and behold; for I am become abject.

12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me,

Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13 From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them;

He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back:

He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand;

They are knit together, they are come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to fail:

The Lord hath delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand.

15 The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me;

He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men:

The Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah.

16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water;

Because the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me:

My children are desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed.

17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands; there is none to comfort her;

Jehovah hath commanded concerning Jacob, that they that are round about him should be his adversaries:

Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing.

18 Jehovah is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment:

Hear, I pray you, all ye peoples, and behold my sorrow:

My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me:

My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city,

While they sought them food to refresh their souls.

20 Behold, O Jehovah; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled;

My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled:

Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

21 They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me;

All mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it:

Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast proclaimed, and they shall be like unto me.

22 Let all their wickedness come before thee;

And do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions:

For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

1 How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! She that was great among the nations is become as a widow; the princess among the provinces is become tributary! 2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath no comforter; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. 3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude; she dwelleth among the nations, she findeth no rest: all her pursuers have overtaken her within the straits. 4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly: all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh, her virgins are in grief; and as for her, she is in bitterness. 5 Her adversaries have become the head, her enemies prosper; for Jehovah hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the adversary. 6 And from the daughter of Zion all her splendour is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture; and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. 7 In the days of her affliction and of her wanderings, since her people fell into the hand of an adversary, and none did help her, Jerusalem remembereth all her precious things which she had in the days of old: the adversaries have seen her, they mock at her ruin. 8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore is she removed as an impurity: all that honoured her despise her because they have seen her nakedness; and she sigheth, and turneth backward. 9 Her impurity was in her skirts, she remembered not her latter end; and she came down wonderfully: she hath no comforter. Jehovah, behold my affliction; for the enemy hath magnified himself. 10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her precious things; for she hath seen the nations enter into her sanctuary, concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. 11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their precious things for food to revive their soul. See, Jehovah, and consider, for I am become vile.

12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, whom Jehovah hath afflicted in the day of his fierce anger. 13 From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; he hath spread a net for my feet; he hath turned me back; he hath made me desolate and faint all the day. 14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, they are come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to fail; the Lord hath delivered me into hands out of which I am not able to rise up. 15 The Lord hath cast down all my mighty men in the midst of me; he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men; the Lord hath trodden as a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah. 16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water: for the comforter that should revive my soul is far from me; my children are desolate, for the enemy hath prevailed. 17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands; there is none to comfort her; Jehovah hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him; Jerusalem is as an impurity among them. 18 Jehovah is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment. Hear, I pray you, all ye peoples, and behold my sorrow. My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity. 19 I called for my lovers, they have deceived me; my priests and mine elders have expired in the city, while they sought them food to revive their soul. 20 See, Jehovah, for I am in distress, my bowels are troubled; my heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled: without, the sword hath bereaved me, within, it is as death. 21 They have heard that I sigh: I have no comforter: all mine enemies have heard of my calamity; they are glad that thou hast done it. Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me. 22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

1 “Look how deserted Jerusalem is! 

Once the city was crowded with people. 

Once it was important among the nations. 

Now it is a widow. 

Once it was a princess among the provinces. 

Now it does forced labor. 

2 Jerusalem cries bitterly at night with tears running down its cheeks. 

Out of all those who love the city, no one offers it comfort. 

All of Jerusalem’s friends have betrayed it and become its enemies. 

3 “Judah has been exiled after ⸤much⸥ suffering and harsh treatment. 

Its ⸤people⸥ live among the nations; they find no rest. 

Those who chased them caught up with them 

in places where there was no way out. 

4 “The roads to Zion are deserted.

No one comes to the annual festivals. 

No one passes through any of its gates.

Its priests are groaning. 

Its young women are made to suffer. 

Zion is bitter. 

5 Its opponents are now in control. 

Its enemies have no worries. 

The Lord made Zion suffer for its many rebellious acts. 

Its children go ahead of their opponents into captivity. 

6 All splendor has abandoned the people of Zion. 

Its influential people were like deer that couldn’t find any pasture. 

They ran without any strength ahead of the hunters. 

7 “Now, during its suffering and oppression, 

Jerusalem remembers all the treasures it had from ancient times, 

when its people fell into the power of their enemies 

with no one to help them. 

Their opponents looked on, and they laughed at Jerusalem’s downfall. 

8 Jerusalem has sinned so much that it has become a filthy thing. 

Everyone who used to honor it now despises it. 

They’ve seen it naked. 

Jerusalem groans and turns away. 

9 Jerusalem’s own filth ⸤covers⸥ its clothes. 

It gave no thought to its future. 

Its downfall was shocking. 

No one offers it comfort. 

‘O Lord, look at my suffering, 

because my enemies have triumphed.’ 

10 The enemies laid their hands on all of the city’s treasures. 

Jerusalem has seen the nations enter the holy place. 

‘O Lord, they are the same people 

you have forbidden to enter your congregation.’ 

11 All the people are groaning as they beg for bread. 

They trade their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. 

‘O Lord, look and see how despised I am!’ ” 

12 “Doesn’t this affect all of you who pass by? 

Look and see if there’s any pain 

like the pain that the Lord has caused me, 

like the pain that he has made me suffer on the day of his fierce anger. 

13 He sent fire from above. 

He made it go deep into my bones. 

He spread a net for my feet. 

He made me turn back. 

He has left me devastated. 

He has made me sick all day long. 

14 My rebellious acts are a heavy burden for me. 

They were tied together by God’s own hands. 

They were tied around my neck. 

He has weakened me ⸤with them⸥. 

The Lord has handed me over to people I cannot oppose. 

15 The Lord has treated all the warriors inside my ⸤walls⸥ with contempt. 

He called an army to defeat my young men. 

The Lord trampled the people of Judah in a winepress. 

16 I’m crying because of ⸤all⸥ these things. 

My eyes—my eyes flow with tears. 

No one can give me the comfort I need to keep me alive. 

Everyone is too far away from me. 

My children are devastated because my enemies have won.” 

17 Zion holds out its hands. 

No one offers it comfort. 

The Lord has given this order about Jacob: 

His own neighbors will become his opponents. 

Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them. 

18 “The Lord is right in what he did, 

because I rebelled against his word. 

Please listen, all you people, and look at my pain. 

My young women and young men have gone into captivity. 

19 I called for those who love me, but they betrayed me. 

My priests and leaders breathed their last breath in the city, 

looking for food to keep themselves alive. 

20 “O Lord, see the distress I’m in! 

My stomach is churning. 

My heart is pounding because I’ve been very bitter. 

In the streets swords kill my children. 

Inside the houses it’s like death. 

21 “All my enemies have heard that I am groaning. 

No one offers me comfort. 

All my enemies have heard about my disaster. 

They are happy that you did it. 

You have allowed the day to come, the one that you had announced. 

Let my enemies be like me now. 

22 Recall all of their wickedness. 

Then deal with them as you have dealt with me 

because of all my rebellious acts. 

I groan so much and feel so sick at heart.” 

1 How she sits alone,

the city once crowded with people!

She who was great among the nations

has become like a widow.

The princess among the provinces

has been put to forced labor.

2 She weeps aloud during the night,

with tears on her cheeks.

There is no one to offer her comfort,

not one from all her lovers.

All her friends have betrayed her;

they have become her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into exile

following affliction and harsh slavery;

she lives among the nations

but finds no place to rest.

All her pursuers have overtaken her

in narrow places.

4 The roads to Zion mourn,

for no one comes to the appointed festivals.

All her gates are deserted;

her priests groan,

her young women grieve,

and she herself is bitter.

5 Her adversaries have become her masters;

her enemies are at ease,

for the Lord has made her suffer

because of her many transgressions.

Her children have gone away

as captives before the adversary.

6 All her splendor has vanished

from Daughter Zion.

Her leaders are like stags

that find no pasture;

they walk away exhausted

before the hunter.

7 During the days of her affliction and homelessness

Jerusalem remembers all her precious belongings

that were hers in days of old.

When her people fell into the adversary’s hand,

she had no one to help.

The adversaries looked at her,

laughing over her downfall.

8 Jerusalem has sinned grievously;

therefore, she has become an object of scorn.

All who honored her now despise her,

for they have seen her nakedness.

She herself groans and turns away.

9 Her uncleanness stains her skirts.

She never considered her end.

Her downfall was astonishing;

there was no one to comfort her.

Lord, look on my affliction,

for the enemy triumphs!

10 The adversary has seized

all her precious belongings.

She has even seen the nations

enter her sanctuary—

those You had forbidden

to enter Your assembly.

11 All her people groan

while they search for bread.

They have traded their precious belongings for food

in order to stay alive.

Lord, look and see

how I have become despised.

12 Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look and see!

Is there any pain like mine,

which was dealt out to me,

which the Lord made me suffer

on the day of His burning anger?

13 He sent fire from heaven into my bones;

He made it descend.

He spread a net for my feet

and turned me back.

He made me desolate,

sick all day long.

14 My transgressions have been formed into a yoke,

fastened together by His hand;

they have been placed on my neck,

and the Lord has broken my strength.

He has handed me over

to those I cannot withstand.

15 The Lord has rejected

all the mighty men within me.

He has summoned an army against me

to crush my young warriors.

The Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah

like grapes in a winepress.

16 I weep because of these things;

my eyes flow with tears.

For there is no one nearby to comfort me,

no one to keep me alive.

My children are desolate

because the enemy has prevailed.

17 Zion stretches out her hands;

there is no one to comfort her.

The Lord has issued a decree against Jacob

that his neighbors should be his adversaries.

Jerusalem has become

something impure among them.

18 The Lord is just,

for I have rebelled against His command.

Listen, all you people;

look at my pain.

My young men and women

have gone into captivity.

19 I called to my lovers,

but they betrayed me.

My priests and elders

perished in the city

while searching for food

to keep themselves alive.

20 Lord, see how I am in distress.

I am churning within;

my heart is broken,

for I have been very rebellious.

Outside, the sword takes the children;

inside, there is death.

21 People have heard me groaning,

but there is no one to comfort me.

All my enemies have heard of my misfortune;

they are glad that You have caused it.

Bring on the day You have announced,

so that they may become like me.

22 Let all their wickedness come before You,

and deal with them

as You have dealt with me

because of all my transgressions.

For my groans are many,

and I am sick at heart.

1 How lonely sits the city

that once was full of people!

How like a widow she has become,

she that was great among the nations!

She that was a princess among the provinces

has become subject to forced labor.

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,

with tears on her cheeks;

among all her lovers,

she has no one to comfort her;

all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;

they have become her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into exile with suffering

and hard servitude;

she lives now among the nations;

she finds no resting place;

her pursuers have all overtaken her

in the midst of her distress.

4 The roads to Zion mourn,

for no one comes to the festivals;

all her gates are desolate;

her priests groan;

her young girls grieve,

and her lot is bitter.

5 Her foes have become the masters;

her enemies prosper

because the Lord has made her suffer

for the multitude of her transgressions;

her children have gone away,

captives before the foe.

6 From daughter Zion has departed

all her majesty.

Her princes have become like stags

that find no pasture;

they fled without strength

before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembers all the precious things

that were hers in days of old.

When her people fell into the hand of the enemy

and there was no one to help her,

the enemy looked on;

they mocked over her downfall.

8 Jerusalem sinned grievously,

so she has become a filthy thing;

all who honored her despise her,

for they have seen her nakedness;

she herself groans

and turns her face away.

9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts;

she took no thought of her future;

her downfall was appalling,

with none to comfort her.

Look, O Lord, at my affliction,

for the enemy has triumphed!

10 Enemies have stretched out their hands

over all her precious things;

she has even seen the nations

invade her sanctuary,

those whom you forbade

to enter your congregation.

11 All her people groan

as they search for bread;

they trade their treasures for food

to revive their lives.

Look, O Lord, and see

how worthless I have become.

12 Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look and see

if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

which was brought upon me,

which the Lord inflicted

on the day of his fierce anger.

13 From on high he sent fire;

it went deep into my bones;

he spread a net for my feet;

he turned me back;

he has left me stunned,

faint all day long.

14 My transgressions were bound into a yoke;

by his hand they were fastened together;

they weigh on my neck,

sapping my strength;

the Lord handed me over

to those whom I cannot withstand.

15 The Lord has rejected

all my warriors in the midst of me;

he proclaimed a time against me

to crush my young men;

the Lord has trodden as in a winepress

the virgin daughter Judah.

16 For these things I weep;

my eyes flow with tears;

for a comforter is far from me,

one to revive my courage;

my children are desolate,

for the enemy has prevailed.

17 Zion stretches out her hands,

but there is no one to comfort her;

the Lord has commanded against Jacob

that his neighbors should become his foes;

Jerusalem has become

a filthy thing among them.

18 The Lord is in the right,

for I have rebelled against his word;

but hear, all you peoples,

and behold my suffering;

my young women and young men

have gone into captivity.

19 I called to my lovers,

but they deceived me;

my priests and elders

perished in the city

while seeking food

to revive their lives.

20 Look, O Lord, at how distressed I am;

my stomach churns;

my heart is wrung within me

because I have been very rebellious.

In the street the sword bereaves;

in the house it is like death.

21 They heard how I was groaning,

with no one to comfort me.

All my enemies heard of my trouble;

they are glad that you have done it.

Bring on the day that you have announced,

and let them be as I am.

22 Let all their evildoing come before you,

and deal with them

as you have dealt with me

because of all my transgressions;

for my groans are many,

and my heart is faint.

1 How desolate the city sits

that was full of people!

She has become like a widow,

once great among the nations!

Like a woman of nobility in the provinces,

she has become a forced laborer.

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,

her tears are on her cheeks;

she has no comforter

among all her lovers.

All her friends have been unfaithful to her;

they have become her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into exile with misery

and under hard servitude;

she lives among the nations,

she has not found a resting place;

all her pursuers have overtaken her

amidst her distress.

4 The roads of Zion are mourning

because no one comes to the festival.

All her gates are desolate,

her priests groan;

her young women are worried,

and she herself suffers bitterly.

5 Her foes have become her master,

her enemies are at ease;

Yahweh has made her suffer

because of the greatness of her transgressions.

Her children have gone away,

captive before the foe.

6 All her majesty has gone away

from the daughter of Zion;

her princes have become like young stags

that have not found pasture;

they have gone away without strength,

before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembers

the days of her misery and wanderings,

all her treasures

that were from the days of long ago.

When her people fell into the hand of the enemy,

there was no one helping her;

the enemies saw her, they mocked

at her destruction.

8 Jerusalem sinned grievously,

thus she became an objection of derision;

all those who honored her despise her

because they have seen her nakedness.

She herself groans

and turns away.

9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts;

she did not remember her future,

she has descended beyond understanding,

there is no comforter for her.

See, O Yahweh, my persecution!

My enemy has been made great!

10 The enemy has stretched out his hand

over all her treasures;

for she has seen the nations,

they entered her sanctuary,

those whom you commanded not to enter

in your assembly.

11 All her people groan,

they are searching for bread.

They give their treasures for food,

to bring back life.

See, O Yahweh, and look,

how I am despised.

12 Is it nothing to you, all who pass by?

Look and see

if there is sorrow like my sorrow,

which was dealt to me,

which Yahweh inflicted

on the day of his wrath.

13 From heaven he sent fire,

into my bones he let it descend.

He spread out a net for my feet;

he turned me back,

he gave me devastation,

fainting all day.

14 My rebellion was bound as a yoke,

with his hand it was fastened together;

it was put on my neck

and caused my strength to fail.

The Lord gave me into the hands

of those whom I cannot withstand.

15 The Lord has rejected

all my mighty ones in my midst.

He called an assembly against me,

to crush my young men;

like in a wine press,

the Lord has trodden on

the virgin daughter of Judah.

16 For these things, I am weeping,

my eyes flow with tears;

because a comforter is far from me,

one to restore my life.

My sons are desolate

because the enemy has prevailed.

17 Zion stretches out her hands;

there is no one to comfort her.

Yahweh has commanded against Jacob,

that those surrounding him should be his enemies;

Jerusalem has become

a defilement among them.

18 Yahweh is righteous;

I have rebelled against his word.

Please hear, all the nations,

And see my pain;

My young women and young men

went into captivity.

19 I have called to my lovers,

they themselves deceived me;

my priests and elders perished in the city

when they sought food for themselves

to revive their life.

20 See, O Yahweh, that I am in distress;

my stomach is in torment,

my heart has turned inside me

because I have certainly rebelled.

From outside a sword brings bereavement,

inside the house it is like death.

21 They hear that I was groaning;

there is no comforter for me.

All my enemies have heard my misery,

they are pleased that you have done it.

Bring that day that you have proclaimed,

And let them be like me.

22 Let all their evil come before you;

and deal with them

just as you have dealt with me

because of all my crimes;

for my groaning is much and my heart is faint.

1 The city of Jerusalem is so empty!

It used to be full of people.

But now it’s like a woman whose husband has died.

She used to be great among the nations.

She was like a queen among the kingdoms.

But now she is a slave.

2 Jerusalem sobs bitterly at night.

Tears run down her cheeks.

None of her friends comforts her.

All those who were going to help her

have turned against her.

They have become her enemies.

3 After Judah’s people had suffered greatly,

they were taken away as prisoners.

Now they live among the nations.

They can’t find any place to rest.

All those who were chasing them have caught up with them.

And they can’t get away.

4 The roads to Zion are empty.

No one travels to its appointed feasts.

All of the public places near its gates are deserted.

Its priests groan.

Its young women are sad.

And Zion itself sobs bitterly.

5 Its enemies have become its masters.

They have an easy life.

The Lord has brought suffering to Jerusalem

because its people have committed so many sins.

Its children have been taken away as prisoners.

Their enemies have forced them to leave their homes.

6 The city of Zion used to be full of glory.

But now its glory has faded away.

Its princes are like deer.

They can’t find anything to eat.

They are almost too weak to get away

from those who hunt them down.

7 Jerusalem’s people are suffering and wandering.

They remember all of the treasures

they used to have.

But they fell into the hands of their enemies.

And no one was there to help them.

Their enemies looked at them.

They laughed because Jerusalem had been destroyed.

8 Its people have committed many sins.

They have become polluted.

All those who honored Jerusalem now look down on it.

They look at it as if it were a naked woman.

The city groans and turns away in shame.

9 Her skirts are dirty.

She didn’t think about how things might turn out.

Her fall from power amazed everyone.

And no one was there to comfort her.

She said, “Lord, please pay attention to how much I’m suffering.

My enemies have won the battle over me.”

10 Jerusalem’s enemies took away

all of its treasures.

Its people saw strangers

enter its temple.

The Lord had commanded them

not to do that.

11 All of Jerusalem’s people groan

as they search for bread.

They trade their treasures for food

just to stay alive.

They say, “Lord, look at us.

Think about our condition.

Everyone looks down on us.”

12 They also say, “All of you who are passing by,

don’t you care about what has happened to us?

Just look at our condition.

Has anyone suffered the way we have?

The Lord has brought all of this on us.

He has made us suffer.

His anger has burned against us.

13 “He sent fire down from heaven.

It went deep down into our very bones.

He spread a net to catch us by the feet.

He stopped us right where we were.

He made our city empty.

We are sick all the time.

14 “We must carry the heavy load of our sins.

He tied it on us with his hands.

Our sins are heavy on our necks.

The Lord has taken away our strength.

He has handed us over to our enemies.

We can’t win the battle over them.

15 “The Lord has refused to accept

any of our soldiers.

He has sent for an army

to crush our young men.

We are like grapes in the Lord’s winepress.

He has stomped on us,

even though we are his very own people.

16 “That’s why we are sobbing.

Tears are flowing from our eyes.

No one is near to comfort us.

No one can heal our spirits.

Our children don’t have anything.

Our enemies are much too strong for us.”

17 Zion reaches out its hands.

But no one is there to comfort its people.

The Lord has ordered that

the neighbors of Jacob’s people would become their enemies.

Jerusalem has become polluted among them.

18 Its people say, “The Lord always does what is right.

But we refused to obey his commands.

Listen, all of you nations.

Pay attention to how much we’re suffering.

Our young women and young men

have been taken away as prisoners.

19 “We called out to those who were going to help us.

But they turned against us.

Our priests and elders

died in the city.

They were searching for food

just to stay alive.

20 “Lord, see how upset we are!

We are suffering deep down inside.

Our hearts are troubled.

Again and again we have refused to obey you.

Outside the city, people are being killed with swords.

Inside, there is nothing but death.

21 “People have heard us groan.

But no one is here to comfort us.

Our enemies have heard about all of our troubles.

What you have done makes them happy.

So please judge them, just as you said you would.

Let them become like us.

22 “Please pay attention to all of their sinful ways.

Punish them as you have punished us.

You judged us because we had committed so many sins.

We groan all the time.

And our hearts are weak.”