See how the Lord covered the city of Zion

with the cloud of his anger!

He threw Israel’s glory down

from heaven to earth.

When he was angry, he turned his back

on his own city.

2 Without pity the Lord swallowed up

all of the homes of Jacob’s people.

When he was angry, he tore down

the forts of the people of Judah.

He brought their kingdom and its princes

down to the ground in dishonor.

3 When he burned with anger,

he took away Israel’s power.

He pulled back his powerful right hand

as the enemy approached.

His burning anger blazed out in Jacob’s land.

It burned up everything that was near it.

4 Like an enemy the Lord got his bow ready to use.

He had a sword in his right hand.

Like an enemy he destroyed

everything that used to be pleasing to him.

His anger blazed out like fire.

It burned up the homes in the city of Zion.

5 The Lord was like an enemy.

He swallowed up Israel.

He swallowed up all of its palaces.

He destroyed its forts.

He filled the people of Judah

with sorrow and sadness.

6 The Lord’s temple was like a garden.

But he completely destroyed it.

He destroyed the place

where he used to meet with his people.

He made Zion’s people forget

their appointed feasts and Sabbath days.

When he was very angry, he turned his back on

king and priest alike.

7 The Lord deserted his altar.

He left his temple.

He handed the walls of Jerusalem’s palaces

over to its enemies.

They shouted loudly in the house of the Lord.

You would have thought it was the day

of an appointed feast.