Lamentations 1:18–20

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

My spirit is greatly troubled;

My heart is overturned within me,

For I have been very rebellious.

In the street the sword slays;

In the house it is like death.