1. Alas! The city once full of peoplenow sits all alone!The prominent lady among the nationshas become a widow!The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer!ב (Bet)
2. She weeps bitterly at night;tears stream down her cheeks.She has no one to comfort heramong all her lovers.All her friends have betrayed her;they have become her enemies.ג (Gimel)
3. Judah has departed into exile under affliction and harsh oppression.She lives among the nations;she has found no resting place.All who pursued her overtook herin narrow straits. ד (Dalet)
4. The roads to Zion mourn because no one travels to the festivals.All her city gates are deserted;her priests groan.Her virgins grieve; she is in bitter anguish!ה (He)
5. Her foes subjugated her;her enemies are at ease. For the Lord afflicted herbecause of her many acts of rebellion.Her children went awaycaptive before the enemy.ו (Vav)
6. All of Daughter Zion’s splendorhas departed. Her leaders became like deer;they found no pasture,so they were too exhausted to escape from the hunter.ז (Zayin)