3. All the strength of Israelvanishes beneath his fierce anger.The Lord has withdrawn his protectionas the enemy attacks.He consumes the whole land of Israellike a raging fire.
4. He bends his bow against his people,as though he were their enemy.His strength is used against themto kill their finest youth.His fury is poured out like fireon beautiful Jerusalem.
5. Yes, the Lord has vanquished Israellike an enemy.He has destroyed her palacesand demolished her fortresses.He has brought unending sorrow and tearsupon beautiful Jerusalem.
6. He has broken down his Templeas though it were merely a garden shelter.The lord has blotted out all memoryof the holy festivals and Sabbath days.Kings and priests fall togetherbefore his fierce anger.
7. The Lord has rejected his own altar;he despises his own sanctuary.He has given Jerusalem’s palacesto her enemies.They shout in the lord’s Templeas though it were a day of celebration.
8. The lord was determinedto destroy the walls of beautiful Jerusalem.He made careful plans for their destruction,then did what he had planned.Therefore, the ramparts and wallshave fallen down before him.
9. Jerusalem’s gates have sunk into the ground.He has smashed their locks and bars.Her kings and princes have been exiled to distant lands;her law has ceased to exist.Her prophets receiveno more visions from the lord.
10. The leaders of beautiful Jerusalemsit on the ground in silence.They are clothed in burlapand throw dust on their heads.The young women of Jerusalemhang their heads in shame.
11. I have cried until the tears no longer come;my heart is broken.My spirit is poured out in agonyas I see the desperate plight of my people.Little children and tiny babiesare fainting and dying in the streets.
12. They cry out to their mothers,“We need food and drink!”Their lives ebb away in the streetslike the life of a warrior wounded in battle.They gasp for lifeas they collapse in their mothers’ arms.