Lamentations 1:3–4

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

3 Judah has gone into exile under affliction

And under harsh servitude;

She dwells among the nations,

But she has found no rest;

All her pursuers have overtaken her

In the midst of distress.

4 The roads of Zion are in mourning

Because no one comes to the appointed feasts.

All her gates are desolate;

Her priests are groaning,

Her virgins are afflicted,

And she herself is bitter.