1. How lonely sits the citythat was full of people!How she has become like a widow,who was once great among the nations!She who was a princess among the provinceshas become a slave!
2. She weeps sorely in the night,her tears are on her cheeks;among all her loversshe has none to comfort her.All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;they have become her enemies.
3. Judah has gone into captivity,under affliction and great servitude;she dwells among the nations,she finds no rest;all her persecutors overtook herin the midst of distress.
4. The roads to Zion mournbecause no one comes to the solemn feasts.All her gates are desolate;her priests sigh,her virgins are afflicted,and she herself suffers bitterly.
5. Her adversaries have become her masters,her enemies prosper;for the Lord has afflicted herbecause of the multitude of her transgressions.Her children have gone into captivitybefore the enemy.
6. From the daughter of Zionall her beauty has departed.Her princes have become like deerthat find no pasture;they fled without strengthbefore the pursuer.
7. In the days of her affliction and miseryJerusalem remembers all her pleasant thingsthat she had in the days of old.When her people fell into the hand of the enemy,there was no one to help her.The adversaries saw herand mocked at her desolation.
8. Jerusalem has sinned grievously;therefore she has become vile.All who honored her despise her,for they have seen her nakedness;she herself sighsand turns away.
9. Her uncleanness is in her skirts;she took no thought of her future;therefore her fall is astounding;she has no comforter.“O Lord, look upon my affliction,for the enemy has triumphed!”
10. The adversary has spread his handover all her precious things;for she has seen the nationsenter her sanctuary,those whom You commandednot to enter Your congregation.
11. All her people groan,as they search for bread;they trade their treasures for foodto restore their strength.Look, O Lord, and consider,for I am despised.
12. Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?Look and seeif there is any sorrow like my sorrow,which was brought upon me,which the Lord has inflictedon the day of His fierce anger.
13. From on high He has sent fire into my bones,and it prevailed against them;He has spread a net for my feet;He turned me back;He has made me desolateand faint all the day long.
14. The yoke of my transgressionswas bound; by His handthey were fastened together; they were set upon my neck.He made my strength fail;the Lord delivered me into the handsof those whom I am not able to withstand.
15. The Lord has trampled underfootall my mighty men in my midst;He has called an assembly against meto crush my young men;The Lord has trodden the virgin daughter of Judahas in a winepress.
16. For these things I weep;my eyes flow with tears;for the comforter, who should relieve my soul,is far from me.My children are desolatefor the enemy has prevailed.
17. Zion spreads out her hands,but there is no one to comfort her;the Lord has commanded against Jacobthat his neighbors should be his adversaries;Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.
18. The Lord is in the right,for I have rebelled against His commandment.Hear now, all peoples,and see my sorrow;my virgins and my young menhave gone into captivity.
19. I called for my lovers,but they deceived me;my priests and my eldersperished in the city,while they sought foodto restore their strength.
20. Look, O Lord, for I am in distress;my soul is greatly troubled;my heart is overturned within me,for I have grievously rebelled.In the street the sword bereaves,at home it is like death.
21. They have heard my groaning,yet there is no one to comfort me.All my enemies have heard of my trouble;they are glad that You have done it.Bring the day that You have announced,that they become like me.
22. Let all their wickedness come before You,and do to themas You have done to mefor all my transgressions;for my groans are many,and my heart is faint.