Lamentations 1

1How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!

2She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

3Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.footnote a

4The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

5Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

6And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.footnote b

8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.footnote c

9Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

10The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.footnote d

11All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.footnote e

12Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.footnote ffootnote g

13From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

15The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.footnote h

16For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.footnote i

17Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

18The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.footnote j

19I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

20Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

21They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.footnote k

22Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

How Lonely Lies the City!

1Howfootnote alonely lies the city,once so full of people!She who was great among the nationshas become a widow.The princess of the provinceshas become a slave.

2She weeps aloud in the night,with tears upon her cheeks.Among all her loversthere is no one to comfort her.All her friends have betrayed her;they have become her enemies.

3Judah has gone into exileunder affliction and harsh slavery;she dwells among the nationsbut finds no place to rest.All her pursuers have overtaken herin the midst of her distress.

4The roads to Zion mourn,because no one comes to her appointed feasts.All her gates are deserted;her priests groan,her maidens grieve,and she herself is bitter with anguish.

5Her foes have become her masters;her enemies are at ease.For the LORD has brought her griefbecause of her many transgressions.Her children have gone awayas captives before the enemy.

6All the splendor has departedfrom the Daughter of Zion.Her princes are like deerthat find no pasture;they lack the strength to fleein the face of the hunter.

7In the days of her affliction and wanderingJerusalem remembers all the treasuresthat were hers in days of old.When her people fell into enemy handsshe received no help.Her enemies looked upon her,laughing at her downfall.

8Jerusalem has sinned greatly;therefore she has become an object of scorn.All who honored her now despise her,for they have seen her nakedness;footnote bshe herself groans and turns away.

9Her uncleanness stains her skirts;she did not consider her end.Her downfall was astounding;there was no one to comfort her.Look, O LORD, on my affliction,for the enemy has triumphed!

10The adversary has seizedall her treasures.For she has seen the nationsenter her sanctuary—those You had forbiddento enter Your assembly.

11All her people groanas they search for bread.They have traded their treasures for foodto keep themselves alive.Look, O LORD, and consider,for I have become despised.

12Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by?Look around and see!Is there any sorrow like mine,which was inflicted on me,which the LORD made me sufferon the day of His fierce anger?

13He sent fire from on high,and it overpowered my bones.He spread a net for my feetand turned me back.He made me desolate,faint all the day long.

14My transgressions are bound into a yoke,footnote cknit together by His hand;they are draped over my neck,and the Lord has broken my strength.He has delivered me into the handsof those I cannot withstand.

15The Lord has rejectedall the mighty men in my midst;He has summoned an army against mefootnote dto crush my young warriors.Like grapes in a winepress,the Lord has trampled the Virgin Daughter of Judah.

16For these things I weep;my eyes flow with tears.For there is no one nearby to comfort me,no one to revive my soul.My children are destitutebecause the enemy has prevailed.

17Zion stretches out her hands,but there is no one to comfort her.The LORD has decreed against Jacobthat his neighbors become his foes.Jerusalem has becomean unclean thing among them.

18The LORD is righteous,yet I rebelled against His command.Listen, all you people;look upon my suffering.My young men and maidenshave gone into captivity.

19I called out to my lovers,but they have betrayed me.My priests and eldersperished in the citywhile they searched for foodto keep themselves alive.

20See, O LORD, how distressed I am!I am churning within;my heart is pounding within me,for I have been most rebellious.Outside, the sword bereaves;inside, there is death.

21People have heard my groaning,but there is no one to comfort me.All my enemies have heard of my trouble;they are glad that You have caused it.May You bring the day You have announced,so that they may become like me.

22Let all their wickedness come before You,and deal with themas You have dealt with mebecause of all my transgressions.For my groans are many,and my heart is faint.