42 Heb “My tent has been destroyed and my tent cords have been ripped apart.” For a very similar identification of Jeremiah’s plight with the plight of the personified community see 4:20 and the notes there.
43 Heb “my children have gone from me and are no more.” What is being referred to is the exile of the people of the land. This passage could refer to the exiles of 605 b.c., 597 b.c., or more probably be anticipatory of the exile of 588 b.c. since the “tent,” (i.e., the city) is pictured as torn down. The picture of devastation and desolation here should be contrasted with that in Isa 54:2–3.

In other versions

My tent is destroyed,

and all my cords are broken;

my children have gone from me,

and they are not;

there is no one to spread my tent again

and to set up my curtains.

My tent is destroyed;

all its ropes are snapped.

My children are gone from me and are no more;

no one is left now to pitch my tent

or to set up my shelter.

My tent is destroyed;

all my tent cords are snapped.

My sons have departed from me and are no more.

I have no one to pitch my tent again

or to hang up my curtains.

My home is gone,

and no one is left to help me rebuild it.

My children have been taken away,

and I will never see them again.

My tent is devastated,

and all my tent cords are torn.

My children have gone out from me,

and they are not.

There is no one who pitches my tent again,

or one who puts up my tent curtains.

My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken:

My children are gone forth of me, and they are not:

There is none to stretch forth my tent any more,

And to set up my curtains.

Public Domain