16. All your enemies gawk at you.They hiss and grit their teeth.They say, ‘We’ve swallowed it up.Yes, this is the day we’ve been waiting for.At last we have seen it!’
17. The Lord has accomplished what he had planned to do.He carried out the threat he announced long ago.He tore you down without any pity, ⌊Jerusalem⌋.He made your enemies gloat over you.He raised the weapons of your opponents.
18. The hearts of Jerusalem’s peoplecried out to the Lord, the wall of Zion’s people.Let your tears run down like a river day and night.Don’t let them stop.Don’t let your eyes rest.
19. Get up! Cry out at night, every hour on the hour.Pour your heart out like water in the presence of the Lord.Lift up your hands to him ⌊in prayer⌋for the life of your little childrenwho faint from hunger at every street corner.”
20. “O Lord, look and consider:Have you ever treated anyone like this?Should women eat their own children,the children they have nursed?Should priests and prophets be killed in the Lord’s holy place?
21. Young and old lie on the ground in the streets.My young women and men are cut down by swords.You killed them on the day of your anger.You slaughtered them without any pity.
22. You have invited those who terrorize me on every side,as though they were invited to a festival.No one escaped or survived on the day of the Lord’s anger.My enemy has murdered the children I nursed and raised.”