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.
14. Your prophets saw visions about you.But they were false and worth nothing.They did not expose your sins.They did not keep you from being captured.The messages they preached to you were false.They fooled you.
15. All who pass by on the roadclap their hands at you.They make fun and shake their headsat Jerusalem.They ask, “Is this the city that people calledthe most beautiful city,the happiest city on earth?”