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; ^b

they did not reveal your guilt

and so restore your fortunes. ^c

They saw oracles for you

that were empty and misleading.

ס Samek

¹⁵All who pass by

scornfully clap their hands ^dat you.

They mock ^efand shake their heads ^g

at Daughter Jerusalem:

Is this the city that was called

the perfection of beauty, ^h

the joy of the whole earth? ⁱ

פ Pe

¹⁶All your enemies

open their mouths against you. ^j

They hiss and gnash their teeth, ^k

saying, “We have swallowed her up. ^l

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, ^m

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, ⁿ

let your tears run down like a river

day and night. ^o

Give yourself no relief

and your ^peyes no rest.

ק Qof

¹⁹Arise, cry out in the night

from the first watch of the night.

Pour out your heart like water

before the Lord’s presence. ^q

Lift up your hands to Him

for the lives of your children

who are fainting from hunger

on the corner of every street. ^r