1How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people ! She is become as a widow, that was great among the nations ! She that was a princess among the provinces is become tributary ! 2She weepeth sore in the night , and her tears are on her cheeks ; Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her : All her friends have dealt treacherously with her ; they are become her enemies. 3Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction , and because of great servitude ; She dwelleth among the nations , she findeth no rest : All her persecutors overtook her within the straits . 4The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly ; All her gates are desolate , her priests do sigh: Her virgins are afflicted , and she herself is in bitterness . 5Her adversaries are become the head , her enemies prosper ; For Jehovah hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions : Her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary . 6And from the daughter of Zion all her majesty is departed : Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture , And they are gone without strength before the pursuer . 7Jerusalem remembereth in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that were from the days of old : When her people fell into the hand of the adversary , and none did help her , The adversaries saw her , they did mock at her desolations. 8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned ; therefore she is become as an unclean thing ; All that honored her despise her , because they have seen her nakedness : Yea , she sigheth, and turneth backward. 9Her filthiness was in her skirts ; she remembered not her latter end; Therefore is she come down wonderfully ; she hath no comforter : Behold , O Jehovah , my affliction ; for the enemy hath magnified himself . 10The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things : For she hath seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary , Concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thine assembly . 11All her people sigh, they seek bread ; They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul : See , O Jehovah , and behold ; for I am become abject.
The Cause of Suffering
12Is it nothing to you , all ye that pass by ? Behold , and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow , which is brought upon me , Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger . 13From on high hath he sent fire into my bones , and it prevaileth against them ; He hath spread a net for my feet , he hath turned me back : He hath made me desolate and faint all the day . 14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand ; They are knit together , they are come up upon my neck ; he hath made my strength to fail : The Lord hath delivered me into their hands , against whom I am not able to stand . 15The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me ; He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men : The Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah . 16For these things I weep ; mine eye , mine eye runneth down with water ; Because the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me : My children are desolate , because the enemy hath prevailed . 17Zion spreadeth forth her hands ; there is none to comfort her ; Jehovah hath commanded concerning Jacob , that they that are round about him should be his adversaries : Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing . 18Jehovah is righteous ; for I have rebelled against his commandment : Hear , I pray you , all ye peoples , and behold my sorrow : My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity . 19I called for my lovers, but they deceived me : My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city , While they sought them food to refresh their souls .
A Cry for Help
20Behold , O Jehovah ; for I am in distress ; my heart is troubled ; My heart is turned within me ; for I have grievously rebelled : Abroad the sword bereaveth , at home there is as death . 21They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me ; All mine enemies have heard of my trouble ; they are glad that thou hast done it : Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast proclaimed , and they shall be like unto me . 22Let all their wickedness come before thee ; And do unto them , as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions : For my sighs are many , and my heart is faint .