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.
13. “He sent fire from above, a fire that burnt inside me.He set a trap for me and brought me to the ground.Then he abandoned me and left me in constant pain.
14. “He took note of all my sins and tied them all together;He hung them round my neck, and I grew weak beneath the weight.The Lord gave me to my foes, and I was helpless against them.
15. “The Lord jeered at all my strongest soldiers;He sent an army to destroy my young men.He crushed my people like grapes in a winepress.