The
Lamentations
of Jeremiah
1
1 How
the city
sits solitary,
that was full
of people!
She has become
as a widow,
who was great
among the nations!
She who was
a princess among
the provinces
has become
a slave!
2 She
weeps bitterly in
the night.
Her tears are
on her cheeks.
Among all her
lovers
she has no
one to comfort
her.
All her friends
have dealt treacherously with
her.
They have become
her enemies.
3 Judah
has gone into
captivity because
of affliction
and because of
great servitude.
She dwells among
the nations.
She finds no
rest.
All her
persecutors overtook
her in her
distress.
4 The
roads to
Zion mourn,
because no
one comes to the
solemn assembly.
All her gates
are desolate.
Her priests sigh.
Her virgins are
afflicted,
and she herself
is in bitterness.
5 Her
adversaries have
become the head.
Her enemies
prosper;
for the LORD
has afflicted her
for the multitude
of her
transgressions.
Her young children
have gone into
captivity before
the adversary.
6 All
majesty has
departed from the
daughter of Zion.
Her princes have
become like deer
that find no
pasture.
They have gone
without strength
before the pursuer.
7 Jerusalem
remembers in the
days of her
affliction and of
her miseries
all her pleasant
things that were
from the days
of old;
when her people
fell into the
hand of the
adversary,
and no one
helped her.
The adversaries
saw her.
They mocked at
her desolations.
8 Jerusalem
has grievously
sinned.
Therefore she has
become unclean.
All who honored
her despise her,
because they have
seen her nakedness.
Yes, she sighs
and turns backward.
9 Her
filthiness was in
her skirts.
She didn’t remember
her latter end.
Therefore she has
come down astoundingly.
She has no
comforter.
“See, LORD, my
affliction;
for the enemy has
magnified himself.”
10 The
adversary has
spread out his
hand on all
her pleasant
things;
for she has
seen that the
nations have entered
into her sanctuary,
concerning whom
you commanded that
they should
not enter into
your assembly.
11 All
her people sigh.
They seek bread.
They have given
their pleasant things
for food to refresh
their soul.
“Look, LORD, and
see,
for I have
become despised.”
12 “Is
it nothing to
you, all you
who pass by?
Look, and see
if there is
any sorrow like
my sorrow,
which is brought
on me,
with which the
LORD has afflicted
me in the
day of his
fierce anger.
13 “From
on high has
he sent fire into
my bones,
and it prevails
against them.
He has spread
a net for
my feet.
He has turned
me back.
He has made
me desolate and
I faint all
day long.
14 “The
yoke of my
transgressions is
bound by his
hand.
They are knit
together.
They have come
up on my
neck.
He made my
strength fail.
The Lord
has delivered me
into their hands,
against whom I am
not able to
stand.
15 “The Lord
has set at
nothing all
my mighty men
within me.
He has called
a solemn assembly
against me to
crush my young men.
The Lord has
trodden the virgin
daughter of Judah
as in a
wine press.
16 “For these
things I weep.
My eye, my
eye runs down with
water,
because the
comforter who
should refresh my
soul is far
from me.
My children are
desolate,
because the enemy
has prevailed.”
17 Zion
spreads out her
hands.
There is no
one to comfort
her.
The LORD has
commanded concerning
Jacob,
that those who
are around him
should be his
adversaries.
Jerusalem is among
them as an
unclean thing.
18 “The
LORD is righteous,
for I have
rebelled against
his commandment.
Please hear all
you peoples,
and see my
sorrow.
My virgins and
my young men have
gone into
captivity.
19 “I
called for
my lovers,
but they deceived
me.
My priests and
my elders gave
up the spirit
in the city,
while they
sought food for
themselves to refresh
their souls.
20 “Look,
LORD; for I
am in distress.
My heart is
troubled.
My heart turns
over within me,
for I have
grievously rebelled.
Abroad, the
sword bereaves.
At home, it
is like death.
21 “They
have heard that
I sigh.
There is no
one to comfort
me.
All my enemies
have heard of
my trouble.
They are glad
that you have
done it.
You will bring
the day that
you have
proclaimed,
and they will
be like me.
22 “Let all
their wickedness come
before you.
Do to them
as you have
done to me
for all my
transgressions.
For my sighs are
many,
and my heart
is faint.