1. How lonely lies Jerusalem, once so full of people!Once honoured by the world, she is now like a widow;The noblest of cities has fallen into slavery.
2. All night long she cries; tears run down her cheeks.Of all her former friends, not one is left to comfort her.Her allies have betrayed her and all are now against her.
3. Judah's people are helpless slaves, forced away from home.They live in other lands, with no place to call their own —Surrounded by enemies, with no way to escape.
4. No one comes to the Temple now to worship on the holy days.The young women who sang there suffer, and the priests can only groan.The city gates stand empty, and Zion is in agony.
5. Her enemies succeeded; they hold her in their power.The Lord has made her suffer for all her many sins;Her children have been captured and taken away.
6. The splendour of Jerusalem is a thing of the past.Her leaders are like deer that are weak from hunger,Whose strength is almost gone as they flee from the hunters.
7. A lonely ruin now, Jerusalem recalls her ancient splendour.When she fell to the enemy, there was no one to help her;Her conquerors laughed at her downfall.
8. Her honour is gone; she is naked and held in contempt.She groans and hides her face in shame.Jerusalem made herself filthy with terrible sin.
9. Her uncleanness was easily seen, but she showed no concern for her fate.Her downfall was terrible; no one can comfort her.Her enemies have won, and she cries to the Lord for mercy.
10. Her enemies robbed her of all her treasures.She saw them enter the Temple itself,Where the Lord had forbidden Gentiles to go.
11. Her people groan as they look for something to eat;They exchange their treasures for food to keep themselves alive.“Look at me, Lord,” the city cries; “see me in my misery.”
12. “Look at me!” she cries to everyone who passes by.“No one has ever had pain like mine,Pain that the Lord brought on me in the time of his anger.