Lamentations 1:1–6

Jerusalem in Affliction

1 How lonely sits the city

That was full of people!

aHow like a widow is she,

Who was great among the nations!

The bprincess among the provinces

Has become a 1slave!

2 She cweeps bitterly in the dnight,

Her tears are on her cheeks;

Among all her lovers

She has none to comfort her.

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;

They have become her enemies.

3 eJudah has gone into captivity,

Under affliction and hard servitude;

fShe dwells among the 2nations,

She finds no grest;

All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits.

4 The roads to Zion mourn

Because no one comes to the 3set feasts.

All her gates are hdesolate;

Her priests sigh,

Her virgins are afflicted,

And she is in bitterness.

5 Her adversaries ihave become 4the master,

Her enemies prosper;

For the Lord has afflicted her

jBecause of the multitude of her transgressions.

Her kchildren have gone into captivity before the enemy.

6 And from the daughter of Zion

All her splendor has departed.

Her princes have become like deer

That find no pasture,

That 5flee without strength

Before the pursuer.