Lamentations 2:13–19

מ Mem

¹³What can I say on your behalf?

What can I compare you to, Daughter Jerusalem?

What can I liken you to,

so that I may console you, Virgin Daughter Zion?

For your ruin is as vast as the sea.

Who can heal you?^a

נ Nun

¹⁴Your prophets saw visions for you

that were empty and deceptive;^Bb

they did not reveal your iniquity

and so restore your fortunes.^c

They saw pronouncements for you

that were empty and misleading.

ס Samek

¹⁵All who pass by

scornfully clap their hands^d at you.

They hiss^e and shake their heads^f

at Daughter Jerusalem:

Is this the city that was called

the perfection of beauty,^g

the joy of the whole earth?^h

פ Pe

¹⁶All your enemies

open their mouths against you.ⁱ

They hiss and gnash their teeth,^j

saying, “We have swallowed her up.^k

This is the day we have waited for!

We have lived to see it.”

ע Ayin

¹⁷The Lord has done what he planned;

he has accomplished his decree,

which he ordained in days of old.

He has demolished without compassion,^l

letting the enemy gloat over you

and exalting the horn of your adversaries.

צ Tsade

¹⁸The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord.

Wall of Daughter Zion,^m

let your tears run down like a river

day and night.ⁿ

Give yourself no relief

and your^A eyes no rest.

ק Qoph

¹⁹Arise, cry out in the night

from the first watch of the night.

Pour out your heart like water

before the Lord’s presence.^o

Lift up your hands to him

for the lives of your children

who are fainting from hunger

at the head of every street.^p