| 1:1 |
How lonely sits the city that once was full of people How like a widow she has she become she that was great among the nations She that was a princess among the citiesprovinces has become a vassal |
| 1:2 |
She weeps bitterly in the night with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has noneno one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her they have become her enemies |
| 1:3 |
Judah has gone into exile becausewith ofsuffering affliction and hard servitude; she dwellslives now among the nations butand finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress |
| 1:4 |
The roads to Zion mourn for noneno comeone comes to the appointed feastsfestivals; all her gates are desolate her priests groan; her maidensyoung havegirls beengrieve dragged away and sheher herselflot suffersis bitterlybitter |
| 1:5 |
Her foes have become the headmasters 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 |
| 1:6 |
From the daughter of Zion has departed all her majesty Her princes have become like hartsstags that find no pasture; they fled without strength before the pursuer |
| 1:7 |
Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and bitternesswandering all the precious things that were hers fromin days of old When her people fell into the hand of the foe and there was noneno one to help her the foe gloatedlooked overon her mocking atover her downfall |
| 1:8 |
Jerusalem sinned grievously thereforeso she becamehas filthybecome a mockery; all who honored her despise her for they have seen her nakedness; yea she herself groans and turns her face away |
| 1:9 |
Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her doomfuture; therefore her falldownfall iswas terribleappalling shewith hasnone noto comfortercomfort her O Lord beholdlook at my affliction for the enemy has triumphed |
| 1:10 |
TheEnemies enemyhave has stretched out histheir hands over all her precious things; yea she has even seen the nations invade her sanctuary those whom thouyou didstforbade forbid to enter thyyour congregation |
| 1:11 |
All her people groan as they search for bread; they trade their treasures for food to revive their strength Look O Lord and beholdsee forhow worthless I amhave despisedbecome |
| 1:13 |
From on high he sent fire; it went deep 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 |
| 1:14 |
My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they wereweigh seton upon my neck; hesapping caused my strength to fail; the Lord gavehanded me intoover theto hands of those whom I cannot withstand |
| 1:15 |
The Lord floutedhas rejected all my mightywarriors men in the midst of me; he summonedproclaimed ana assemblytime against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a wine press the virgin daughter of Judah |
| 1:17 |
Zion stretches out her hands but there is noneno one to comfort her; the Lord has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should bebecome his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them |
| 1:18 |
The Lord is in the right for I have rebelled against his word; but hear all you peoples and behold my suffering; my maidensyoung women and my young men have gone into captivity |
| 1:19 |
I called to my lovers but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city while theyseeking sought food to revive their strength |
| 1:20 |
BeholdSee O Lord forhow distressed I am; in distress my soulstomach ischurns 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 |
| 1:21 |
HearThey heard how I groan;was theregroaning iswith noneno one to comfort me All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thouyou hasthave done it Bring thouon the day thouyou hasthave announced and let them be as I am |
| 1:22 |
Let all their evil doing come before theeyou; and deal with them as thouyou hasthave dealt with me because of all my transgressions; for my groans are many and my heart is faint |
| 2:1 |
How the Lord in his anger has sethumiliated the daughter of Zion under a cloud He has castthrown down from heaven to earth the splendor of Israel; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger |
| 2:2 |
The Lord has destroyed without mercy all the habitationsdwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers |
| 2:3 |
He has cut down in fierce anger all the might of Israel; he has withdrawn from them his right hand from them in the face of the enemy; he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob consuming all around |
| 2:4 |
He has bent his bow like an enemy with his right hand set like a foe; and he has slainkilled all thein pridewhom ofwe ourtook eyespride in the tent of the daughter of Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire |
| 2:5 |
The Lord has become like an enemy; he has destroyed Israel; heHe has destroyed all its palaces laid in ruins its strongholds; and he has multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation |
| 2:6 |
He has broken down his booth like that of a garden laidhe inhas ruinsdestroyed the place of his appointed feaststabernacle; the Lord has broughtabolished to an end in Zion appointedfestival feast and sabbath and in his fierce indignation has spurned king and priest |
| 2:7 |
The Lord has scorned his altar disowned his sanctuary; he has delivered into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; a clamor was raised in the house of the Lord as on thea day of an appointed feastfestival |
| 2:8 |
The Lord determined to lay in ruins the wall of the daughter of Zion; he markedstretched it off by the line; he restraineddid not withhold his hand from destroying; he caused rampart and wall to lament; they languish together |
| 2:9 |
Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has ruined and broken her bars; her king and princes are among the nations; theguidance law is no more and her prophets obtain no vision from the Lord |
| 2:10 |
The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have castthrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth; the maidensyoung girls of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground |
| 2:11 |
My eyes are spent with weeping; my soulstomach is in tumultchurns; my heartbile is poured out inon griefthe ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people because infants and babes faint in the streets of the city |
| 2:12 |
They cry to their mothers Where is bread and wine as they faint like the wounded men in the streets of the city as their life is poured out on their mothers bosom |
| 2:13 |
What can I say for you to what compare you O daughter of Jerusalem WhatTo what can I liken to you that I may comfort you O virgin daughter of Zion For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can restoreheal you |
| 2:14 |
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes but have seen oracles for you oraclesthat are false and misleading |
| 2:15 |
All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem; Is this the city whichthat was called the perfection of beauty the joy of all the earth |
| 2:16 |
All your enemies railopen their mouths against you; they hiss they gnash their teeth they cry: We have destroyeddevoured her Ah this is the day we longed for; nowat last we have it;seen we see it |
| 2:17 |
The Lord has done what he purposed he has carried out his threat; as he ordained long ago he has demolished without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes |
| 2:18 |
Cry aloud to the Lord O daughterwall of daughter Zion Let tears stream down like a torrent day and night Give yourself no rest your eyes no respite |
| 2:20 |
Look O Lord and seeconsider WithTo whom hasthave thouyou dealtdone thusthis Should women eat their offspring the children ofthey theirhave tenderborne care Should priest and prophet be slainkilled in the sanctuary of the Lord |
| 2:21 |
InThe young and the dustold ofare thelying streetson lie the youngground andin the oldstreets; my maidensyoung women and my young men have fallen by the sword; in the day of thyyour anger thouyou hasthave slainkilled them slaughtering without mercy |
| 2:22 |
ThouYou didstinvited invitemy asenemies tofrom theall dayaround ofas anif appointedfor feasta myday terrorsof on every sidefestival; and on the day of the anger of the Lord noneno one escaped or survived; those whom I dandledbore and reared my enemy has destroyed |
| 3:1 |
I am theone man who has seen affliction under the rod of hisGods wrath; |
| 3:3 |
surely against me alone he turns his hand again and again theall whole day long |
| 3:6 |
he has made me dwellsit in darkness like the dead of long ago |
| 3:10 |
He is to me like a bear lying in wait likefor me a lion in hiding; |
| 3:13 |
He droveshot into my heartvitals the arrows of his quiver; |
| 3:14 |
I have become the laughingstock of all peoplesmy people the burdenobject of their taunt songs all day long |
| 3:17 |
my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; |
| 3:18 |
so I say Gone is my glory and myall expectationthat I had hoped for from the Lord |
| 3:19 |
RememberThe thought of my affliction and my bitternesshomelessness theis wormwood and the gall |
| 3:23 |
they are new every morning; great is thyyour faithfulness |
| 3:27 |
It is good for aone manto that he bear the yoke in his youth |
| 3:28 |
Letto him sit alone in silence when hethe Lord has laidimposed it on him; |
| 3:29 |
letto him put hisones mouth into the dust— there may yet be hope; |
| 3:30 |
letto him give hisones cheek to the smiter and be filled with insults |
| 3:31 |
For the Lord will not castreject off for everforever |
| 3:32 |
butAlthough though he causecauses grief he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; |
| 3:33 |
for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of menanyone |
| 3:34 |
ToWhen crush under foot all the prisoners of the earthland are crushed under foot |
| 3:35 |
towhen turnhuman asiderights theare rightperverted of a man in the presence of the Most High |
| 3:36 |
towhen subvertones acase manis insubverted his—does cause the Lord does not approvesee it |
| 3:37 |
Who hascan commandedcommand and have it camedone toif pass unless the Lord has not ordained it |
| 3:38 |
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and evilbad come |
| 3:39 |
Why should aany livingwho mandraw breath complain a man about the punishment of histheir sins |
| 3:41 |
Let us lift up our hearts andas well as our hands to God in heaven: |
| 3:42 |
We have transgressed and rebelled and thouyou hasthave not forgiven |
| 3:43 |
ThouYou hasthave wrapped thyselfyourself with anger and pursued us slayingkilling without pity; |
| 3:44 |
thouyou hasthave wrapped thyselfyourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through |
| 3:45 |
ThouYou hasthave made us offscouringfilth and refuserubbish among the peoples |
| 3:46 |
All our enemies railhave opened their mouths against us; |
| 3:47 |
panic and pitfall have come upon us devastation and destruction; |
| 3:48 |
myMy eyes flow with rivers of tears because of the destruction of the daughter of my people |
| 3:50 |
until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees; |
| 3:51 |
myMy eyes cause me grief at the fate of all the maidensyoung ofwomen in my city |
| 3:52 |
IThose havewho beenwere huntedmy likeenemies awithout birdcause byhave thosehunted whome werelike mya enemies without causebird; |
| 3:53 |
they flung me alive into thea pit and casthurled stones on me; |
| 3:55 |
I called on thyyour name O Lord from the depths of the pit; |
| 3:56 |
thouyou didstheard hear my plea Do not close thineyour ear to my cry for help but give me relief |
| 3:57 |
ThouYou didstcame come near when I called on theeyou; thouyou didstsaid say Do not fear |
| 3:58 |
ThouYou hasthave taken up my cause O Lord thouyou hasthave redeemed my life |
| 3:59 |
ThouYou hasthave seen the wrong done to me O Lord; judge thou my cause |
| 3:60 |
ThouYou hasthave seen all their vengeancemalice all their devicesplots against me |
| 3:61 |
ThouYou hasthave heard their taunts O Lord all their devicesplots against me |
| 3:62 |
The lipswhispers and thoughtsmurmurs of my assailants are against me all the day long |
| 3:63 |
BeholdWhether theirthey sittingsit andor theirrise—see rising; I am the burdenobject of their taunt songs |
| 3:64 |
ThouPay wiltthem requiteback themfor their deeds O Lord according to the work of their hands |
| 3:65 |
ThouGive wilt give them dullnessanguish of heart; thyyour curse will be on them |
| 3:66 |
ThouPursue wilt pursue them in anger and destroy them from under thythe Lords heavens O Lord |
| 4:1 |
How the gold has grown dim how the pure gold is changed The holysacred stones lie scattered at the head of every street |
| 4:2 |
The precious sonschildren of Zion worth their weight in fine gold— how they are reckoned as earthen pots the work of a potters hands |
| 4:3 |
Even the jackals giveoffer the breast and sucklenurse their young but the daughter of my people has become cruel like the ostriches in the wilderness |
| 4:4 |
The tongue of the nurslinginfant cleavessticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food but no one gives tothem themanything |
| 4:5 |
Those who feasted on daintiesdelicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple liecling onto ash heaps |
| 4:6 |
For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom which was overthrown in a moment though no hand beingwas laid on it |
| 4:7 |
Her princes were purer than snow whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral the beauty of their formhair was like sapphire |
| 4:8 |
Now their visage is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets; theirTheir skin has shriveled uponon their bones; it has become as dry as wood |
| 4:9 |
Happier were thethose victimspierced ofby the sword than thethose victimspierced ofby hunger whowhose pinedlife drains away strickendeprived by want of the fruitsproduce of the field |
| 4:10 |
The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people |
| 4:11 |
The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger; and he kindled a fire in Zion whichthat consumed its foundations |
| 4:12 |
The kings of the earth did not believe ornor did any of the inhabitants of the world that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem |
| 4:13 |
ThisIt was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests who shed in the midstblood of herthe righteous in the bloodmidst of the righteousher |
| 4:14 |
TheyBlindly they wandered blind through the streets so defiled with blood that noneno couldone was able to touch their garments |
| 4:15 |
Away Unclean menpeople criedshouted at them; Away Away TouchDo not touch So they became fugitives and wanderers; menit was said among the nations They shall stay withhere us no longer |
| 4:17 |
Our eyes failed ever watching vainly for help; inwe ourwere watching weeagerly watched for a nation whichthat could not save |
| 4:18 |
MenThey dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered; for our end had come |
| 4:19 |
Our pursuers were swifter than the vultureseagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains they lay in wait for us in the wilderness |
| 4:20 |
The Lords anointed the breath of our nostrilslife the Lords anointed was taken in their pits— hethe one of whom we said Under his shadow we shall live among the nations |
| 4:21 |
Rejoice and be glad O daughter of Edom dwelleryou that live in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare |
| 4:22 |
The punishment of your iniquity O daughter of Zion is accomplished he will keep you in exile no longer; but your iniquity O daughter of Edom he will punish he will uncover your sins |
| 5:1 |
Remember O Lord what has befallen us; beholdlook and see our disgrace |
| 5:4 |
We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought |
| 5:6 |
We have givenmade thea handpact towith Egypt and to Assyria to get enough bread enough |
| 5:7 |
Our fathersancestors sinned; andthey are no more; and we bear their iniquities |
| 5:8 |
Slaves rule over us; there is noneno one to deliver us from their hand |
| 5:10 |
Our skin is hotblack as an oven withfrom the burningscorching heat of famine |
| 5:11 |
Women are ravishedraped in Zion virgins in the towns of Judah |
| 5:13 |
Young men are compelled to grind at the mill; and boys stagger under loads of wood |
| 5:14 |
The old men have quitleft the city gate the young men their music |
| 5:17 |
ForBecause of this our hearthearts hasare become sick forbecause of these things our eyes have grown dim: |
| 5:18 |
forbecause of Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it |
| 5:19 |
But thouyou O Lord dost reign for everforever; thyyour throne endures to all generations |
| 5:20 |
Why dosthave thouyou forgetforgotten us forcompletely everWhy whyhave dostyou thouforsaken sous longthese forsakemany usdays |
| 5:21 |
Restore us to thyselfyourself O Lord that we may be restored; Renewrenew our days as of old— |
| 5:22 |
Orunless hastyou thouhave utterly rejected us Artand thouare exceedingly angry with us beyond measure |