Lamentations 2:13–19

¹³What can I say for you?^v

With what can I compare you,

Daughter^w Jerusalem?

To what can I liken you,

that I may comfort you,

Virgin Daughter Zion?^x

Your wound is as deep as the sea.^y

Who can heal you?

¹⁴The visions of your prophets

were false^z and worthless;

they did not expose your sin

to ward off your captivity.^a

The prophecies they gave you

were false and misleading.^b

¹⁵All who pass your way

clap their hands at you;^c

they scoff^d and shake their heads^e

at Daughter Jerusalem:^f

“Is this the city that was called

the perfection of beauty,^g

the joy of the whole earth?”^h

¹⁶All your enemies open their mouths

wide against you;ⁱ

they scoff and gnash their teeth^j

and say, “We have swallowed her up.^k

This is the day we have waited for;

we have lived to see it.”^l

¹⁷The Lord has done what he planned;

he has fulfilled^m his word,

which he decreed long ago.ⁿ

He has overthrown you without pity,^o

he has let the enemy gloat over you,^p

he has exalted the horn^e of your foes.^q

¹⁸The hearts of the people

cry out to the Lord.^r

You walls of Daughter Zion,^s

let your tears^t flow like a river

day and night;^u

give yourself no relief,

your eyes no rest.^v

¹⁹Arise, cry out in the night,

as the watches of the night begin;

pour out your heart^w like water

in the presence of the Lord.^x

Lift up your hands^y to him

for the lives of your children,

who faint^z from hunger

at every street corner.