[1] How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has
she become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess
among the cities has become a vassal. [2] She weeps bitterly in the night,
tears 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] Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard
servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress. [4] The
roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the appointed feasts; all her gates
are desolate, her priests groan; her maidens have been dragged away, and
she herself suffers bitterly. [5] Her foes have become the head, her
enemies prosper, because the LORD has made her suffer for the multitude of
her transgressions; her children have gone away, captives before the foe.
[6] From the daughter of Zion has departed all her majesty. Her princes
have become like harts that find no pasture; they fled without strength
before the pursuer. [7] Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction
and bitterness all the precious things that were hers from days of old.
When her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was none to help
her, the foe gloated over her, mocking at her downfall. [8] Jerusalem
sinned grievously, therefore she became filthy; all who honored her despise
her, for they have seen her nakedness; yea, she herself groans, and turns
her face away. [9] Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought
of her doom; therefore her fall is terrible, she has no comforter. "O LORD,
behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!" [10] The enemy has
stretched out his hands over all her precious things; yea, she has seen the
nations invade her sanctuary, those whom thou didst forbid to enter thy
congregation. [11] All her people groan as they search for bread; they
trade their treasures for food to revive their strength. "Look, O LORD, and
behold, for I am despised." [12] "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass
by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought
upon me, which the LORD inflicted on the day of his fierce anger. [13]
"From on high he sent fire; into my bones he made it descend; he spread a
net for my feet; he turned me back; he has left me stunned, faint all the
day long. [14] "My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they
were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength
to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand.
[15] "The LORD flouted all my mighty men in the midst of me; he summoned an
assembly against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a
wine press the virgin daughter of Judah. [16] "For these things I weep; my
eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my
courage; my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed." [17] Zion
stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her; the LORD has
commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should be his foes; Jerusalem
has become a filthy thing among them. [18] "The LORD is in the right, for I
have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and behold my
suffering; my maidens and my young men have gone into captivity. [19] "I
called to my lovers but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in
the city, while they sought food to revive their strength. [20] "Behold, O
LORD, for I am in distress, my soul is in tumult, my heart is wrung within
me, because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves;
in the house it is like death. [21] "Hear how I groan; there is none to
comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that
thou hast done it. Bring thou the day thou hast announced, and let them be
as I am. [22] "Let all their evil doing come before thee; and deal with
them as thou hast dealt with me because of all my transgressions; for my
groans are many and my heart is faint."
