Lamentations 1

¹ How the city that was full of people sits alone! She has become like a widow. She who was great among the nations, a princess among the provinces, has been made a forced laborer.

² She weeps bitterly through the night, and her tears run down her face. Among all those who loved her, there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies.

³ Judah went into exile, suffering and harsh oppression. She lives among the nations and finds no rest; all who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of distress.

⁴ The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to the festivals. All her gates lie deserted; her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she herself is bitter with sorrow.

⁵ Her foes have taken the lead; her enemies are at ease, because the LORD has afflicted her for her many transgressions. Her children have gone into captivity before the foe.

⁶ All her splendor has departed from the daughter of Zion. Her princes have become like deer that find no pasture; they have walked without strength before the pursuer.

⁷ In the days of her affliction and homelessness, Jerusalem remembers all the precious things she had in days long past. When her people fell into the hand of the foe and there was no one to help her, her foes saw her and laughed at her downfall.

⁸ Jerusalem has sinned greatly; that is why she has become defiled. All who once honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness. She herself groans and turns away.

⁹ Her uncleanness clings to the hem of her robe. She gave no thought to her end. She has fallen terribly, and there is no one to comfort her. Look, LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.

¹⁰ The foe has stretched out his hand over all her precious things. She has seen nations enter her sanctuary, those whom you commanded not to enter your assembly.

¹¹ All her people groan as they search for bread. They have traded their precious things for food to keep themselves alive. Look, LORD, and see how despised I have become.

¹² Is it nothing to you, all who pass by on the road? Look and see whether there is any pain like my pain, which was inflicted on me, with which the LORD afflicted me on the day of his fierce anger.

¹³ From on high he sent fire into my bones and subdued them. He spread a net for my feet and made me turn back. He left me devastated, sick all day long.

¹⁴ The yoke of my transgressions was bound by his hand; they were woven together and climbed onto my neck. He made my strength fail. The Lord handed me over to those against whom I cannot stand.

¹⁵ The Lord has rejected all my warriors in my midst. He has summoned an appointed time against me to crush my young men. The Lord has trampled the winepress for the virgin daughter of Judah.

¹⁶ Because of this I weep; my eyes, my eyes pour out water, because the one who could comfort me and restore my life is far from me. My children are devastated, because the enemy has prevailed.

¹⁷ Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has commanded that Jacob's neighbors become his foes. Jerusalem has become defiled among them.

¹⁸ The LORD is righteous, for I rebelled against his command. Hear this, all you peoples, and see my pain: my young women and 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 seeking food for themselves to keep themselves alive.

²⁰ Look, LORD, how distressed I am! My insides are in turmoil; my heart is turned over within me, because I have rebelled so greatly. Outside, the sword leaves people childless; inside the house, it is like death.

²¹ They have heard that I groan, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my misfortune and are glad, because you have done this. You have brought the day you announced; let them become like me.

²² Let all their wickedness come before you, and deal with them as you dealt with me for all my transgressions; for my groans are many, and my heart is sick.

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