1. Jerusalem, once so crowded,lies deserted and lonely.This city that was knownall over the worldis now like a widow.This queen of the nationshas been made a slave.
2. Each night, bitter tearsflood her cheeks.None of her former loversare there to offer comfort;her friends have betrayed herand are now her enemies.
3. The people of Judah are slaves,suffering in a foreign land,with no rest from sorrow.Their enemies captured themand were terribly cruel.
4. The roads to Zion mournbecause no one travels thereto celebrate the festivals.The city gates are deserted;priests are weeping.Young women are raped;Zion is in sorrow!
5. Enemies now rule the cityand live as they please.The Lord has punished Jerusalembecause of her awful sins;he has let her peoplebe dragged away.
6. Zion's glory has disappeared.Her leaders are like deerthat cannot find pasture;they are hunted downtill their strength is gone.
7. Her people recall the good lifethat once was theirs;now they sufferand are scattered.No one was there to protect themfrom their enemies who sneeredwhen their city was taken.
8. Jerusalem's horrible sinshave made the city a joke.Those who once admired hernow hate her instead—she has been disgraced;she groans and turns away.
9. Her sins had made her filthy,but she wasn't worriedabout what could happen.And when Jerusalem fell,it was so tragic.No one gave her comfortwhen she cried out,“Help! I'm in trouble, Lord!The enemy has won.”
10. Zion's treasures were stolen.Jerusalem saw foreignersenter her place of worship,though the Lordhad forbidden themto belong to his people.
11. Everyone in the city groanswhile searching for food;they trade their valuablesfor barely enough scrapsto stay alive.Jerusalem shouts to the Lord,“Please look and seehow miserable I am!”
12. No passer-by even cares.Why doesn't someone noticemy terrible sufferings?You were fiercely angry, Lord,and you punished meworst of all.
13. From heaven you sent a firethat burnt in my bones;you set a trap for my feetand made me turn back.All day long you leave mein shock from constant pain.
14. You have tied my sinsaround my neck,and they weigh so heavilythat my strength is gone.You have put me in the powerof enemies too strong for me.
15. You, Lord, have turned backmy warriors and crushedmy young heroes.Judah was a woman untouched,but you let her be trampledlike grapes in a wine-pit.
16. Because of this, I mourn,and tears flood my eyes.No one is here to comfortor to encourage me;we have lost the war—my people are suffering.
17. Zion reaches out her hands,but no one offers comfort.The Lord has turnedthe neighbouring nationsagainst Jacob's descendants.Jerusalem is merely a filthy ragto her neighbours.
18. The Lord was right,but I refused to obey him.Now I ask all of you to lookat my sufferings—even my young peoplehave been dragged away.
19. I called out to my lovers,but they betrayed me.My priests and my leaders diedwhile searching the cityfor scraps of food.
20. Won't you look and seehow upset I am, our Lord?My stomach is in knots,and my heart is brokenbecause I betrayed you.In the streets and at home,my people are slaughtered.
21. Everyone heard my groaning,but no one offered comfort.My enemies know of the troublethat you have brought on me,and it makes them glad.Hurry and punish them,as you have promised.
22. Don't let their evil deedsescape your sight.Punish them as muchas you have punished mebecause of my sins.I never stop groaning—I've lost all hope!