Lamentations 1
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.
