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 he 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, he prepared to shoot his bow,and his hand was against us.Like an enemy, he killedall the good-looking people;he poured out his anger like fireon the tents of Jerusalem.
5. The Lord was like an enemy;he swallowed up Israel.He swallowed up all her palacesand destroyed all her strongholds.He has caused more moaning and groaningfor Judah.
6. He cut down his Temple like a garden;he destroyed the meeting place.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 handed over to the enemythe walls of Jerusalem’s palaces.Their uproar in the Lord’s Templewas like that of a feast day.
8. The Lord planned to destroythe wall around Jerusalem.He measured the walland 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 among the nations.The teaching of the Lord has stopped,and the prophets do not havevisions from the Lord.
10. The elders of Jerusalemsit on the ground in silence.They throw dust on their headsand put on rough cloth to show their sadness.The young women of Jerusalembow their heads to the ground in sorrow.
11. My eyes have no more tears,and I am sick to my stomach.I feel empty inside,because my people have been destroyed.Children and babies are faintingin the streets of the city.
12. They ask their mothers,“Where is the grain and wine?”They faint like wounded soldiersin the streets of the cityand 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 deep as the sea.No one can heal you.
14. Your prophets saw visions,but they were false and worth nothing.They did not point out your sinsto keep you from being captured.They preached what was falseand led you wrongly.
15. All who pass by on the roadclap their hands at you;they make fun of Jerusalemand shake their heads.They ask, “Is this the city that people calledthe most beautiful city,the happiest place on earth?”
16. All your enemies open their mouthsto speak against you.They make fun and grind their teeth in anger.They say, “We have swallowed you 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 kept his wordthat he commanded long ago.He has destroyed without mercy,and he has let your enemies laugh at you.He has strengthened your enemies.
18. The people cry out to the Lord.Wall of Jerusalem,let your tears flowlike a river day and night.Do not stopor let your eyes rest.
19. Get up, cry out in the night,even as the night begins.Pour out your heart like waterin prayer to the Lord.Lift up your hands in prayer to himfor the life of your childrenwho are fainting with hungeron every street corner.
20. Jerusalem says: “Look, Lord, and seeto whom you have done this.Women eat their own babies,the children they have cared for.Priests and prophets are killedin the Temple of the Lord.
21. “People young and oldlie outside on the ground.My young women and young menhave been killed by the sword.You killed them on the day of your anger;you killed them without mercy.
22. “You invited terrors to come against me on every side,as if you were inviting them to a feast.No one escaped or remained aliveon the day of the Lord’s anger.My enemy has killedthose I cared for and brought up.”