How the city that was full of peoples sits alone! She has become like a widow; she that was great among the nations, ruling among the provinces, has been made to pay tribute.
Weeping she wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all who loved her there is none to comfort her. All her friends have broken faith with her; they have become her enemies.
Judea was carried away because of her humiliation and because of the greatness of her servitude. She settled among the nations; she found no rest. All who pursued her overtook her in the midst of those who afflict.
The roads of Zion mourn, because no one comes to the feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests groan, her virgins are led away, and she herself is embittered within.
Those who afflict her have become the head, and her enemies prospered, for the Lord humbled her for the multitude of her ungodly deeds. Her infants went into captivity before the face of the oppressor.
All her splendor has gone out from the daughter of Zion. Her rulers have become like rams that find no pasture, and they went without strength before the face of the pursuer.
Jerusalem remembered the days of her humiliation and of her castings-off, all her precious things that were from days of old, when her people fell into the hands of the oppressor and there was no one to help her. Her enemies saw and laughed at her deportation.
Jerusalem sinned a sin; therefore she became a thing shaken. All who honored her have brought her low, for they saw her shame; and she herself groans and has turned back.
Her uncleanness is at her feet; she did not consider her latter end, and she brought down things beyond measure. There is no one to comfort her. Look, O Lord, on my humiliation, for the enemy has magnified himself.
The oppressor stretched out his hand over all her precious things; for she saw nations entering her sanctuary, those whom you commanded not to enter your assembly.
All her people groan as they seek bread; they gave their precious things for food, to bring back life. Look, O Lord, and see, for I have become despised.
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass along the way? Turn and see whether there is any pain like my pain, which has come upon me. The Lord spoke against me; he humbled me in the day of his fierce anger.
From his height he sent fire into my bones and brought it down. He spread a net for my feet; he turned me back. He made me desolate, in pain all the day long.
A watch was kept over my ungodly deeds; in my hands they were entwined. They came up on my neck; my strength has failed, for the Lord put pains into my hands; I shall not be able to stand.
The Lord removed all my mighty men from my midst; he called a set time against me to crush my chosen ones. The Lord trod the winepress for the virgin daughter of Judah. For these things I weep.
My eye brings down water, because the one who comforts me, who restores my soul, is far from me. My sons have been made desolate, for the enemy has prevailed.
Zion spread out her hands, and there is no one to comfort her. The Lord gave command concerning Jacob; those around him are the ones who afflict him. Jerusalem has become among them like a woman set apart as unclean.
The Lord is righteous, for I rebelled against his mouth. Hear now, all you peoples, and see my pain: my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.
I called for my lovers, but they deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city, for they sought food for themselves to restore their lives, and found none.
Look, O Lord, for I am in distress. My inward parts are in turmoil, and my heart is turned within me, for I have been utterly rebellious. Outside the sword bereaved me; inside the house it is like death.
Hear now that I am groaning; there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies heard of my troubles and rejoiced, because you have done it. You brought on a day, you called a time, and they became like me.
May all their wickedness come before your face; and glean them clean, just as they made a gleaning of me for all my sins. For my groans are many, and my heart is grieved.