A Call to Lament

1:8 Wail32 like a young virgin33 clothed in sackcloth,

lamenting the death of34 her husband-to-be.35

1:9 No one brings grain offerings or drink offerings

to the temple36 of the Lord anymore.37

So the priests, those who serve the Lord, are in mourning.

1:10 The crops of the fields38 have been destroyed.39

The ground is in mourning because the grain has perished.

The fresh wine has dried up;

the olive oil languishes.

1:11 Be distressed,40 farmers;

wail, vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley.

For the harvest of the field has perished.

1:12 The vine has dried up;

the fig tree languishes—

the pomegranate, date, and apple41 as well.

In fact,42 all the trees of the field have dried up.

Indeed, the joy of the people43 has dried up!

1:13 Get dressed44 and lament, you priests!

Wail, you who minister at the altar!

Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you servants of my God,

because no one brings grain offerings or drink offerings

to the temple of your God anymore.45

1:14 Announce a holy fast;46

proclaim a sacred assembly.

Gather the elders and47 all the inhabitants of the land

to the temple of the Lord your God,

and cry out to the Lord.

1:15 How awful that day will be!48

For the day of the Lord is near;

it will come as destruction from the Divine Destroyer.49

1:16 Our food has been cut off right before our eyes!50

There is no longer any joy or gladness in the temple of our God!51

1:17 The grains of seed52 have shriveled beneath their shovels.53

Storehouses have been decimated

and granaries have been torn down, for the grain has dried up.

1:18 Listen to the cattle groan!54

The herds of livestock wander around in confusion55

because they have no pasture.

Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

1:19 To you, O Lord, I call out for help,56

for fire57 has burned up58 the grassy pastures,59

flames have razed60 all the trees in the fields.

1:20 Even the wild animals61 cry out to you;62

for the river beds63 have dried up;

fire has destroyed64 the grassy pastures.65