Lamentations 1
1How does the city that was filled with people sit solitary! 1 She is become as a widow: 1 She that was magnified among the nations, 1 And princess among the provinces, 1 Has become tributary. 1
2She weeps sore in the night, 1 And her tears are on her cheeks; 1 And there is none of all her lovers to comfort her: 1 All that were her friends have dealt deceitfully with her, 1 They are become her enemies. 1
3Judea is gone into captivity by reason of her affliction, 1 And by reason of the abundance of her servitude: 1 She dwells among the nations, 1 She has not found rest: 1 All her pursuers have overtaken her between her oppressors. 1
4The ways of Zion mourn, 1 Because there are none that come to the feast: 1 All her gates are ruined: 1 Her priests groan, 1 Her virgins are led captive, 1 And she is in bitterness in herself. 1
5Her oppressors are become the head, 1 And her enemies have prospered; 1 For the Lord has afflicted her 1 Because of the multitude of her sins: 1 Her young children are gone into captivity 1 Before the face of the oppressor. 1
6And all her beauty has been taken away 1 From the daughter of Zion: 1 Her princes were as rams finding no pasture, 1 And are gone away in weakness 1 Before the face of the pursuer. 1
7Jerusalem remembered the days of her affliction, 1 And her rejection; 1 She thought on all her desirable things 1 Which were from the days of old, 1 When her people fell into the hands of the oppressor, 1 And there was none to help her: 1 When her enemies saw it 1 They laughed at her habitation. 1
8Jerusalem has sinned a great sin; 1 Therefore has she come into tribulation, 1 All that used to honor her have afflicted her, 1 For they have seen her shame: 1 Yea, she herself groaned, and turned backward. 1
9Her uncleanness is before her feet; 1 She remembered not her last end; 1 She has lowered her boasting tone, 1 There is none to comfort her. 1 Behold, O Lord, my affliction: 1 For the enemy has magnified himself. 1
10The oppressor has stretched out his hand 1 On all her desirable things: 1 For she has seen the Gentiles 1 Entering into her sanctuary, 1 Concerning whom thou didst command 1 That they should not enter into thy congregation. 1
11All her people groan, 1 Seeking bread: 1 They have given their desirable things for meat, 1 To restore their soul: 1 Behold, Lord, and look; 1 For she is become dishonored. 1
12All ye that pass by the way, 1 Turn, and see if there is sorrow like to my sorrow, 1 Which has happened to me. 1 The Lord who spoke by me 1 Has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 1
13He has sent fire from his lofty habitation, 1 He has brought it into my bones: 1 He has spread a net for my feet, 1 He has turned me back: 1 He has made me desolate 1 And mourning all the day. 1
14He has watched over my sins, 1 They are twined about my hands, 1 They have come up on my neck: 1 My strength has failed; 1 For the Lord has laid pains on my hands, 1 I shall not be able to stand. 1
15The Lord has cut off 1 All my strong men from the midst of me: 1 He has summoned against me a time 1 For crushing my choice men: 1 The Lord has trodden a winepress 1 For the virgin daughter of Judah: 1 For these things I weep. 1
16Mine eye has poured out water, 1 Because he that should comfort me, 1 That should restore my soul, 1 Has been removed far from me: 1 My sons have been destroyed, 1 Because the enemy has prevailed. 1
17Zion has spread out her hand, 1 And there is none to comfort her: 1 The Lord has commanded concerning Jacob, 1 His oppressors are round about him: 1 Jerusalem has become among them as a removed woman. 1
18The Lord is righteous; 1 For I have provoked his mouth: 1 Hear, I pray you, all people, 1 And behold my grief: 1 My virgins and my young men 1 Are gone into captivity. 1
19I called my lovers, 1 But they deceived me: 1 My priests and my elders 1 Failed in the city; 1 For they sought meat 1 That they might restore their souls, 1 And found it not. 1
20Behold, O Lord; for I am afflicted: 1 My belly is troubled, 1 And my heart is turned within me; 1 For I have been grievously rebellious: 1 Abroad the sword has bereaved me, 1 Even as death at home. 1
21Hear, I pray you, for I groan: 1 There is none to comfort me: 1 All mine enemies have heard of mine afflictions, 1 And rejoice because thou hast done it: 1 Thou hast brought on the day, 1 Thou hast called the time: 1 They are become like to me. 1
22Let all their wickedness come before thy face; 1 And strip them, as they have made a gleaning for all my sins: 1 For my groans are many, 1 And my heart is grieved.