1 Beginning with 9:1, the verse numbers through 9:26 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (), with 9:1 = 8:23 , 9:2 = 9:1 , 9:3 = 9:2 , etc., through 9:26 = 9:25 . Beginning with 10:1 the verse numbers in the and are again the same.
2 Heb “I wish that my head were water.”
3 Heb “daughter of my people.” For the translation given here see 4:11 and the note on the phrase “dear people” there.
4 Heb “I wish I had in the desert a lodging place [inn, or place to spend the night] for travelers.”
5 Or “bunch,” but this loses the irony; the word is used for the solemn assemblies at the religious feasts.
6 Heb “they are all adulterers, a congregation of unfaithful people.” However, spiritual adultery is, of course, meant, not literal adultery. So the literal translation would be misleading.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Oh that my head were waters,

and my eyes a fountain of tears,

that I might weep day and night

for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Oh that I had in the desert

a travelers’ lodging place,

that I might leave my people

and go away from them!

For they are all adulterers,

a company of treacherous men.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Oh, that my head were a spring of water

and my eyes a fountain of tears!

I would weep day and night

for the slain of my people.

Oh, that I had in the desert

a lodging place for travelers,

so that I might leave my people

and go away from them;

for they are all adulterers,

a crowd of unfaithful people.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

If my head were a flowing spring,

my eyes a fountain of tears,

I would weep day and night

over the slain of my dear people.

If only I had a traveler’s lodging place

in the wilderness,

I would abandon my people

and depart from them,

for they are all adulterers,

a solemn assembly of treacherous people.

NLTNew Living Translation

If only my head were a pool of water

and my eyes a fountain of tears,

I would weep day and night

for all my people who have been slaughtered.

Oh, that I could go away and forget my people

and live in a travelers’ shack in the desert.

For they are all adulterers—

a pack of treacherous liars.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Oh that my head were waters,

and my eyes a fountain of tears,

so that I might weep day and night,

for the slain of the daughter of my people.

Oh that I had in the desert a place of overnight lodging for travelers,

that I may leave my people and go from them,

for all of them are adulterers,

a band of traitors.

KJV 1900King James Version

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears,

That I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men;

That I might leave my people, and go from them!

For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

Public Domain