Old Testament · Prophets

Lamentations chapter 1

How now— the city once overflowing with people. She has become like a , she who was great among the nations. The princess among provinces has been put to forced labor.She through the night, tears streaming down her face. Of all who once loved her, not one comes to comfort her. Every one of her has betrayed her— they’ve become her enemies.Judah has gone into , ground down by suffering and hard labor. She lives among the nations now but finds no rest. All who hunted her caught her right there in the .The roads to are in mourning— no one comes to the anymore. All her gates stand deserted. Her priests groan. Her young women grieve. And she herself—bitterness is all she tastes.Her enemies have taken charge; those who hate her thrive. Because himself brought this grief on her for the sheer weight of her . Her children have been dragged away, captives driven before the enemy.All her has drained from the . Her leaders became like deer that can’t find pasture— they stumbled along, strengthless, ahead of the hunter.In the days of her suffering and wandering, Jerusalem all the treasures she had in the old days. When her people fell into enemy hands and no one came to help, her enemies looked on and laughed at her downfall.Jerusalem’s were terrible— that’s why she’s become something filthy to them. Everyone who once honored her now despises her, because they’ve seen her . She herself groans and turns her face away.Her ; she never considered how this would end. Her fall was staggering— and no one to comfort her. “Look, Yahweh, look at my suffering! The enemy has triumphed!”The enemy stretched out his hands over everything she treasured. She watched as foreign nations poured into , the very ones you commanded: “They must never enter your .”All her people are groaning, searching for bread. They just to stay alive. “Look, Yahweh—really look. See how worthless I’ve become.”, all who pass by? Look around and see— is there any pain like my pain, the pain inflicted on me, the pain Yahweh brought down on me on the day his erupted?From above he sent fire down into my bones, and it overpowered them. He spread a net for my feet and hurled me backward. He left me devastated, sick with pain all day long.My rebellions were bound into a — his own hands wove them together. They were draped across my neck and broke my strength completely. The Lord handed me over to those I cannot withstand.The Lord brushed aside every warrior I had. He called an army against me to crush my young men. The Lord the .This is why I weep; overflow with tears. Because the one who could comfort me, who could restore my life, is far away. My children are devastated because the enemy has won.Zion stretches out her hands but no one comes to comfort her. Yahweh gave the order against : “Let his neighbors become his enemies.” Jerusalem has become something filthy among them.“— it was I who . Listen, all you peoples, and look at my pain: my young women and young men have been dragged into captivity.”I called out to my allies, but they betrayed me. My collapsed in the city while they searched for food just to stay alive.“Look, Yahweh—I am crushed. My , my inside me because I have been so deeply rebellious. Outside, the sword takes my children. Inside, it’s like death itself.”“They hear me groaning but no one comes to comfort me. All my enemies heard about my disaster— they’re glad you did this. Bring on ; let them end up just like me.”“Let all their evil come before your face. Do to them what you’ve done to me for all my . My groaning goes on and on, and .”