1 [a] 1 How deserted lies the city, 1 once so full of people! 1 How like a widow is she, 1 who once was great among the nations! 1 She who was queen among the provinces 1 has now become a slave.
2 Bitterly she weeps at night, 2 tears are on her cheeks. 2 Among all her lovers 2 there is none to comfort her. 2 All her friends have betrayed her; 2 they have become her enemies.
3 After affliction and harsh labor, 3 Judah has gone into exile. 3 She dwells among the nations; 3 she finds no resting place. 3 All who pursue her have overtaken her 3 in the midst of her distress.
4 The roads to Zion mourn, 4 for no one comes to her appointed festivals. 4 All her gateways are desolate, 4 her priests groan, 4 her young women grieve, 4 and she is in bitter anguish.
5 Her foes have become her masters; 5 her enemies are at ease. 5 The Lord has brought her grief 5 because of her many sins. 5 Her children have gone into exile, 5 captive before the foe.
6 All the splendor has departed 6 from Daughter Zion. 6 Her princes are like deer 6 that find no pasture; 6 in weakness they have fled 6 before the pursuer.
7 In the days of her affliction and wandering 7 Jerusalem remembers all the treasures 7 that were hers in days of old. 7 When her people fell into enemy hands, 7 there was no one to help her. 7 Her enemies looked at her 7 and laughed at her destruction.
8 Jerusalem has sinned greatly 8 and so has become unclean. 8 All who honored her despise her, 8 for they have seen her nakedness; 8 she herself groans 8 and turns away.
9 Her filthiness clung to her skirts; 9 she did not consider her future. 9 Her fall was astounding; 9 there was none to comfort her. 9 "Look, Lord, on my affliction, 9 for the enemy has triumphed."
10 The enemy laid hands 10 on all her treasures; 10 she saw pagan nations 10 enter her sanctuary— 10 those you had forbidden 10 to enter your assembly.
11 All her people groan 11 as they search for bread; 11 they barter their treasures for food 11 to keep themselves alive. 11 "Look, Lord, and consider, 11 for I am despised."
12 "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? 12 Look around and see. 12 Is any suffering like my suffering 12 that was inflicted on me, 12 that the Lord brought on me 12 in the day of his fierce anger?
13 "From on high he sent fire, 13 sent it down into my bones. 13 He spread a net for my feet 13 and turned me back. 13 He made me desolate, 13 faint all the day long.
14 "My sins have been bound into a yoke[b]; 14 by his hands they were woven together. 14 They have been hung on my neck, 14 and the Lord has sapped my strength. 14 He has given me into the hands 14 of those I cannot withstand.
15 "The Lord has rejected 15 all the warriors in my midst; 15 he has summoned an army against me 15 to[c] crush my young men. 15 In his winepress the Lord has trampled 15 Virgin Daughter Judah.
16 "This is why I weep 16 and my eyes overflow with tears. 16 No one is near to comfort me, 16 no one to restore my spirit. 16 My children are destitute 16 because the enemy has prevailed."
17 Zion stretches out her hands, 17 but there is no one to comfort her. 17 The Lord has decreed for Jacob 17 that his neighbors become his foes; 17 Jerusalem has become 17 an unclean thing among them.
18 "The Lord is righteous, 18 yet I rebelled against his command. 18 Listen, all you peoples; 18 look on my suffering. 18 My young men and young women 18 have gone into exile.
19 "I called to my allies 19 but they betrayed me. 19 My priests and my elders 19 perished in the city 19 while they searched for food 19 to keep themselves alive.
20 "See, Lord, how distressed I am! 20 I am in torment within, 20 and in my heart I am disturbed, 20 for I have been most rebellious. 20 Outside, the sword bereaves; 20 inside, there is only death.
21 "People have heard my groaning, 21 but there is no one to comfort me. 21 All my enemies have heard of my distress; 21 they rejoice at what you have done. 21 May you bring the day you have announced 21 so they may become like me.
22 "Let all their wickedness come before you; 22 deal with them 22 as you have dealt with me 22 because of all my sins. 22 My groans are many 22 and my heart is faint."
