17. Zion stretches out her hands,with no one to comfort her;The Lord has ordered against Jacobhis foes all around;Jerusalem has become in their midsta thing unclean.
18. “The Lord is in the right;I had defied his command.Listen, all you peoples,and see my pain:My young women and young menhave gone into captivity.
19. I cried out to my lovers,but they failed me.My priests and my eldersperished in the city;How desperately they searched for food,to save their lives!
20. Look, O Lord, at the anguish I suffer!My stomach churns,And my heart recoils within me:How bitter I am!Outside the sword bereaves—indoors, there is death.
21. Hear how I am groaning;there is no one to comfort me.All my enemies hear of my misery and rejoiceover what you have done.Bring on the day you proclaimed,and let them become like me!
22. Let all their evil come before youand deal with themAs you have so ruthlessly dealt with mefor all my rebellions.My groans are many,my heart is sick.”