Lamentations 1:16–19

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

16 “For these things I weep;

My eyes run down with water;

Because far from me is a comforter,

One who restores my soul.

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 commanded concerning Jacob

That the ones round about him should be his adversaries;

Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.

18 “The Lord is righteous;

For I have rebelled against His command;

Hear now, all peoples,

And behold my pain;

My virgins and my young men

Have gone into captivity.

19 “I called to my lovers, but they deceived me;

My priests and my elders perished in the city

While they sought food to restore their strength themselves.