1. Look how the Lord in his angerhas brought Jerusalem to shame.He has thrown down the greatness of Israelfrom the sky to the earth.He did not remember the Temple, his footstool,on the day of his anger.
2. The Lord swallowed up without mercyall the houses of the people of Jacob.In his anger he pulled downthe strong places of Judah.He threw her kingdom and its rulersdown to the ground in dishonor.
3. In his anger the Lord has removedall the strength of Israel.He took away his power from Israelwhen the enemy came.He burned against the people of Jacob like a flaming firethat burns up everything around it.
4. Like an enemy, the Lord prepared to shoot his bow.He took hold of his sword.Like an enemy, he killedall the good-looking people.He poured out his anger like fireon the tents of Jerusalem.
5. The Lord has become like an enemy.He has swallowed up Israel.He has swallowed up all her palaces.He has destroyed all her strong places.He has caused more moaning and groaningfor Judah.
6. He has destroyed his Temple as if it were a garden tent.He has destroyed the place where he met with his people.The Lord has made Jerusalem forgetthe set feasts and Sabbath days.He has rejected the king and the priestin his great anger.
7. The Lord has rejected his altarand abandoned his Temple.He has given to the enemythe walls of Jerusalem’s palaces.The enemy shouted in the Lord’s Templeas if it were a feast day.
8. The Lord planned to destroythe wall around Jerusalem.He marked the wall off with a measuring line.He did not stop himself from destroying it.He made the walls and defenses sad.Together they have fallen.
9. Jerusalem’s gates have fallen to the ground.He destroyed and smashed the bars of the gates.Her king and her princes are sent away among the nations.The teaching of the Lord has stopped.The prophets have not hadany visions from the Lord.
10. The elders of Jerusalemsit on the ground and are silent.They pour dust on their headsand put on rough cloth to show how sad they are.The young women of Jerusalembow their heads to the ground in sorrow.
11. My eyes are weak from crying.I am troubled.I feel as if I have been poured out on the groundbecause my people have been destroyed.Children and babies are faintingin the streets of the city.
12. They say to their mothers,“Where is some bread and wine?”They faint like wounded soldiersin the streets of the city.They die in their mothers’ arms.
13. What can I say about you, Jerusalem?What can I compare you to?What can I say you are like?How can I comfort you, Jerusalem?Your ruin is as big as the sea.No one can heal you.