12. They cry out to their mothers,“We need food and drink!”Their lives ebb away in the streetslike the life of a warrior wounded in battle.They gasp for lifeas they collapse in their mothers’ arms.
13. What can I say about you?Who has ever seen such sorrow?O daughter of Jerusalem,to what can I compare your anguish?O virgin daughter of Zion,how can I comfort you?For your wound is as deep as the sea.Who can heal you?
14. Your prophets have saidso many foolish things, false to the core.They did not save you from exileby pointing out your sins.Instead, they painted false pictures,filling you with false hope.
15. All who pass by jeer at you.They scoff and insult beautiful Jerusalem, saying,“Is this the city called ‘Most Beautiful in All the World’and ‘Joy of All the Earth’?”
16. All your enemies mock you.They scoff and snarl and say,“We have destroyed her at last!We have long waited for this day,and it is finally here!”