Lamentations

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Lamentations 1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Lament over Jerusalem

1. How she sits alone, the city once crowded with people!She who was great among the nationshas become like a widow. The princess among the provinceshas been put to forced labor.

ב Bet

2. She weeps aloud during the night, with tears on her cheeks.There is no one to offer her comfort,not one from all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her;they have become her enemies.

ג Gimel

3. Judah has gone into exilefollowing affliction and harsh slavery;she lives among the nationsbut finds no place to rest. All her pursuers have overtaken herin narrow places.

ד Dalet

4. The roads to Zion mourn,for no one comes to the appointed festivals. All her gates are deserted;her priests groan,her young women grieve,and she herself is bitter.

ה He

5. Her adversaries have become her masters; her enemies are at ease, for the Lord has made her sufferbecause of her many transgressions.Her children have gone awayas captives before the adversary.

ו Vav

6. All her splendor has vanishedfrom Daughter Zion. Her leaders are like stagsthat find no pasture;they walk away exhaustedbefore the hunter.

ז Zayin

7. During the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious belongingsthat were hers in days of old.When her people fell into the adversary’s hand,she had no one to help.The adversaries looked at her,laughing over her downfall.

ח Khet

8. Jerusalem has sinned grievously;therefore, she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her,for they have seen her nakedness.She herself groans and turns away.

ט Tet

9. Her uncleanness stains her skirts. She never considered her end.Her downfall was astonishing; there was no one to comfort her.Lord, look on my affliction,for the enemy triumphs!

י Yod

10. The adversary has seizedall her precious belongings.She has even seen the nationsenter her sanctuary —those You had forbiddento enter Your assembly.

כ Kaf

11. All her people groanwhile they search for bread. They have traded their precious belongings for foodin order to stay alive. Lord, look and seehow I have become despised.

ל Lamed

12. Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see!Is there any pain like mine,which was dealt out to me,which the Lord made me sufferon the day of His burning anger?

מ Mem

13. He sent fire from heaven into my bones;He made it descend. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back.He made me desolate,sick all day long.

נ Nun

14. My transgressions have been formed into a yoke, fastened together by His hand;they have been placed on my neck,and the Lord has broken my strength.He has handed me overto those I cannot withstand.

ס Samek

15. The Lord has rejected all the mighty men within me.He has summoned an army against meto crush my young warriors.The Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah like grapes in a winepress.

ע Ayin

16. I weep because of these things;my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one nearby to comfort me, no one to keep me alive.My children are desolatebecause the enemy has prevailed.

פ Pe

17. Zion stretches out her hands;there is no one to comfort her.The Lord has issued a decree against Jacobthat his neighbors should be his adversaries.Jerusalem has becomesomething impure among them.

צ Tsade

18. The Lord is just,for I have rebelled against His command. Listen, all you people;look at my pain.My young men and womenhave gone into captivity.

ק Qof

19. I called to my lovers, but they betrayed me.My priests and eldersperished in the citywhile searching for foodto keep themselves alive.

20. Lord, see how I am in distress.I am churning within; my heart is broken, for I have been very rebellious.Outside, the sword takes the children;inside, there is death.

ר Resh

21. People have heard me groaning, but there is no one to comfort me.All my enemies have heard of my misfortune;they are glad that You have caused it. Bring on the day You have announced,so that they may become like me.

ת Tav

22. Let all their wickedness come before You,and deal with themas You have dealt with mebecause of all my transgressions. For my groans are many,and I am sick at heart.