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?”
16. All your enemies open their mouthsto say things against you.They make fun and grind their teeth in anger.They say, “We have swallowed her up.This is the day we were waiting for.We have finally seen it happen.”
17. The Lord has done what he planned.He has carried out the orderthat he commanded long ago.He has destroyed without mercy.He has made your enemies happy because of what happened to you.He has strengthened your enemies.
18. The peoplecry out to the Lord.Wall of Jerusalem,let your tears flowlike a river day and night.Do not stop.Do not let your eyes rest.
19. Get up, cry out in the night.Cry all through the night.Pour out your heart like waterin prayer to the Lord.Lift up your hands in prayer to him.Pray for the life of your children.They are fainting with hungeron every street corner.
20. Jerusalem says: “Look, Lord, and see.You have never done this to anyone else.Women eat their own babies,the children they have cared for.Priests and prophetsare killed in the Temple of the Lord.