1 How
doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become
as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the
provinces, how is she become tributary! 2 She
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. 3 Judah
is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude:
she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors
overtook her between the straits. 4 The
ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her
gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she
is in bitterness. 5 Her
adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted
her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into
captivity before the enemy. 6 And
from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are
become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength
before the pursuer. 7 Jerusalem
remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant
things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the
hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and
did mock at her sabbaths. 8 Jerusalem
hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her
despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and
turneth backward. 9 Her
filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore
she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction:
for the enemy hath magnified himself. 10 The
adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she
hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst
command that they should not enter into thy congregation. 11 All
her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things
for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become
vile.
12
Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any
sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath
afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 13 From
above 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. 14 The
yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come
up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the LORD hath delivered
me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up. 15 The
LORD hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath
called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the LORD hath trodden
the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress. 16 For
these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because
the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are
desolate, because the enemy prevailed. 17 Zion
spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath
commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him:
Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. 18 The
LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I
pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men
are gone into captivity. 19 I called
for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up
the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls. 20 Behold,
O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned
within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at
home there is as death. 21 They
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 called, and they shall be like unto me. 22 Let
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.