CHAPTER 1
How
lonely
lies
the city,
once so full
of people!
She who was great
among the nations
has become
like a widow.
The princess
of the provinces
has become
a slave.
She weeps
aloud
in the night,
with tears
upon
her cheeks.
Among all
her lovers
there is no one
to comfort her.
All
her friends
have betrayed her;
they have become
her enemies.
Judah
has gone into exile
under affliction
and harsh
slavery;
she
dwells
among the nations
but finds
no
place to rest.
All
her pursuers
have overtaken her
in the midst
of her distress.
The 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.
Her foes
have become
her masters;
her enemies
are at ease.
For
the LORD
has brought her grief
because of
her many
transgressions.
Her children
have gone away
as captives
before
the enemy.
All
the splendor
has departed
from
the Daughter of Zion.
Her princes
are
like deer
that find
no
pasture;
they lack
the strength
to flee
in the face of
the hunter.
In the days
of her affliction
and wandering
Jerusalem
remembers
all
the treasures
that
were hers
in days
of old.
When her people
fell
into the hand
of the adversary,
she had no
one to help.
Her enemies
looked at her,
laughing
at
her downfall.
Jerusalem
has sinned greatly;
therefore
she has become
an object of scorn.
All
who honored her
now despise her,
for
they have seen
her nakedness;
she
herself groans
and turns
away.
Her 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!
The adversary
has seized
all
her treasures.
For
she has seen
the nations
enter
her sanctuary—
those
You had forbidden
to enter
Your assembly.
All
her people
groan
as they search
for bread.
They have traded
their treasures
for food
to keep themselves alive.
Look,
O LORD,
and consider,
for
I have become
despised.
Is 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 suffer
on the day
of His fierce
anger?
He sent
fire
from on high;
He made it seep
into my bones;
He spread
a net
for my feet
and turned
me back.
He made
me desolate,
faint
all
the day long.
My transgressions
are bound into
a yoke,
knit together
by His hand;
they have come
upon
my neck,
and the Lord
has broken
my strength.
He has handed me over
to those I cannot
withstand.
The Lord
has rejected
all
the warriors
in my midst;
He has summoned
an army
against me
to crush
my young warriors.
Like grapes in a winepress
the Lord
has trampled
the Virgin
Daughter
of Judah.
For
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
destitute
because
the enemy
has prevailed.
Zion
stretches out
her hands,
but there is no
one to comfort her.
The LORD
has decreed
against Jacob
that his neighbors
become his foes.
Jerusalem
has become
an unclean thing
among them.
The LORD
is righteous,
for
I have rebelled
against His command.
Listen,
all you people;
look upon
my suffering.
My young men
and maidens
have gone
into captivity.
I called out
to my lovers,
but they
have betrayed me.
My priests
and elders
perished
in the city
while
they searched for
food
to keep themselves alive.
Behold,
O LORD,
how
distressed I am.
I am churning
within;
my heart
is overturned,
for
I have been most rebellious.
Outside,
the sword
bereaves;
inside,
there is death.
People 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.
Let all
their wickedness
come
before You,
and deal with them
as
You have dealt with me
because of
all
my transgressions.
For
my groans
are many,
and my heart
is faint.