1. Jerusalem once was full of people,but now the city is empty.Jerusalem once was a great city among the nations,but now she is like a widow.She was like a queen of all the other cities,but now she is a slave.
2. She cries loudly at night,and tears are on her cheeks.There is no one to comfort her;all who loved her are gone.All her friends have turned against herand are now her enemies.
3. Judah has gone into captivitywhere she suffers and works hard.She lives among other nations,but she has found no rest.Those who chased her caught herwhen she was in trouble.
4. The roads to Jerusalem are sad,because no one comes for the feasts.No one passes through her gates.Her priests groan,her young women are suffering,and Jerusalem suffers terribly.
5. Her foes are now her masters.Her enemies enjoy the wealth they have taken.The Lord is punishing herfor her many sins.Her children have gone awayas captives of the enemy.
6. The beauty of Jerusalemhas gone away.Her rulers are like deerthat cannot find food.They are weakand run from the hunters.
7. Jerusalem is suffering and homeless.She remembers all the good thingsfrom the past.But her people were defeated by the enemy,and there was no one to help her.When her enemies saw her,they laughed to see her ruined.
8. Jerusalem sinned terribly,so she has become unclean.Those who honored her now hate her,because they have seen her nakedness.She groansand turns away.
9. She made herself dirty by her sinsand did not think about what would happen to her.Her defeat was surprising,and no one could comfort her.She says, “Lord, see how I suffer,because the enemy has won.”
10. The enemy reached out and tookall her precious things.She even saw foreignersenter her Temple.The Lord had commanded foreignersnever to enter the meeting place of his people.
11. All of Jerusalem’s people groan,looking for bread.They are trading their precious things for foodso they can stay alive.The city says, “Look, Lord, and see.I am hated.”
12. Jerusalem says, “You who pass by on the road don’t seem to care.Come, look at me and see:Is there any pain like mine?Is there any pain like that he has caused me?The Lord has punished meon the day of his great anger.