1How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave. (Ezr 4:20; Ec 2:8; Isa 31:8; Jer 7:34; Jer 15:8; La 5:16)2She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies. (Ps 6:6; Ec 4:1; Jer 9:1; Jer 13:17; Jer 22:22; Jer 30:14; La 1:9; La 1:16; La 1:19; La 1:21; Eze 23:22)3Judah has gone into exile because of affliction[1] and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.[2] (De 28:64; Jer 45:3; Jer 52:27; La 2:9)4The roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the festival; all her gates are desolate; her priests groan; her virgins have been afflicted,[3] and she herself suffers bitterly. (Jer 14:2; La 1:8; La 1:11; La 1:21; La 2:6)5Her foes have become the head; her enemies prosper, because the Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions; her children have gone away, captives before the foe. (De 28:13; De 28:44; 2Ch 36:17; 2Ch 36:20; Jer 12:1; Jer 13:21; Jer 30:14; Jer 52:28; La 1:12; La 3:33; Da 9:16)6From the daughter of Zion all her majesty has departed. Her princes have become like deer that find no pasture; they fled without strength before the pursuer. (Jer 14:6)7Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and wandering all the precious things that were hers from days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was none to help her, her foes gloated over her; they mocked at her downfall. (Ps 119:51; Jer 46:26; La 1:10; La 2:17; Ob 1:12)8Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore she became filthy; all who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns her face away. (La 1:4; La 1:21; Eze 16:37; Zec 13:1)9Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future;[4] therefore her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. “O Lord, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!” (De 32:29; Isa 47:7; Jer 13:22; Jer 48:26; La 1:2)10The enemy has stretched out his hands over all her precious things; for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, those whom you forbade to enter your congregation. (De 23:3; Ne 13:1; Ps 79:1; Jer 51:51; La 1:7)11All her people groan as they search for bread; they trade their treasures for food to revive their strength. “Look, O Lord, and see, for I am despised.” (Jer 38:9; Jer 52:6; La 1:8; La 1:10; La 1:19; La 2:12; La 4:4)12“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger. (Job 21:29; Ps 80:12; Jer 12:13; La 1:5; Da 9:12)13“From on high he sent fire; into my bones[5] he made it descend; he spread a net for my feet; he turned me back; he has left me stunned, faint all the day long. (Ps 9:15; Ps 102:3; Jer 8:18; La 3:11; Eze 12:13; Eze 17:20)14“My transgressions were bound[6] into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand. (De 28:48)15“The Lord rejected all my mighty men in my midst; he summoned an assembly against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah. (Isa 63:2)16“For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my spirit; my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed.” (Jer 13:17; La 1:2; La 1:11; La 1:21)17Zion stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her; the Lord has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should be his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them. (Isa 1:15; Jer 4:31; La 1:16)18“The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and see my suffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity. (De 28:41; 1Sa 12:14; Jer 12:1)19“I called to my lovers, but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city, while they sought food to revive their strength. (La 1:2; La 1:11)20“Look, O Lord, for I am in distress; my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death. (De 32:25; Job 30:27; Isa 16:11; Jer 15:2; La 2:11; Eze 7:15)21“They heard[7] my groaning, yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it. You have brought[8] the day you announced; now let them be as I am. (Jer 50:11; La 1:2; La 1:4; La 1:8; La 1:11; La 1:16; La 4:21)22“Let all their evildoing come before you, and deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions; for my groans are many, and my heart is faint.” (Ps 109:14; Jer 8:18; La 1:12; La 1:21; La 2:20)
Lamentations 1
New International Version
1[1] How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.2Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no-one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.3After affliction and harsh labour, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting-place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.4The roads to Zion mourn, for no-one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish.5Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.6All the splendour has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer.7In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands, there was no-one to help her. Her enemies looked at her and laughed at her destruction.8Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honoured her despise her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away.9Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. ‘Look, Lord, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.’10The enemy laid hands on all her treasures; she saw pagan nations enter her sanctuary – those you had forbidden to enter your assembly.11All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. ‘Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.’12‘Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger?13‘From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.14‘My sins have been bound into a yoke[2]; by his hands they were woven together. They have been hung on my neck, and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has given me into the hands of those I cannot withstand.15‘The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to[3] crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah.16‘This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No-one is near to comfort me, no-one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.’17Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no-one to comfort her. The Lord has decreed for Jacob that his neighbours become his foes; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.18‘The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile.19‘I called to my allies but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive.20‘See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death.21‘People have heard my groaning, but there is no-one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so that they may become like me.22‘Let all their wickedness come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans are many and my heart is faint.’
Lamentations 1
King James Version
1How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!2She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her : all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.3Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.4The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.5Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.6And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.7Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.9Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself .10The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.11All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.12Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.13From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.15The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.16For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.17Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.18The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.19I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.20Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.21They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it : thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.22Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
Lamentations 1
New International Reader’s Version
1The city of Jerusalem is so empty! She used to be full of people. But now she’s like a woman whose husband has died. She used to be great among the nations. She was like a queen among the kingdoms. But now she is a slave.2Jerusalem weeps bitterly at night. Tears run down her cheeks. None of her friends comforts her. All those who were going to help her have turned against her. They have become her enemies.3After Judah’s people had suffered greatly, they were taken away as prisoners. Now they live among the nations. They can’t find any place to rest. All those who were chasing them have caught up with them. And they can’t get away.4The roads to Zion are empty. No one travels to her appointed feasts. All the public places near her gates are deserted. Her priests groan. Her young women are sad. And Zion herself weeps bitterly.5Her enemies have become her masters. They have an easy life. The LORD has brought suffering to Jerusalem because her people have committed so many sins. Her children have been taken away as prisoners. Her enemies have forced her people to leave their homes.6The city of Zion used to be full of glory. But now her glory has faded away. Her princes are like deer. They can’t find anything to eat. They are almost too weak to get away from those who hunt them down.7Jerusalem’s people are suffering and wandering. They remember all the treasures they used to have. But they fell into the hands of their enemies. And no one was there to help them. Their enemies looked at them. They laughed because Jerusalem had been destroyed.8Her people have committed many sins. They have become impure. All those who honoured Jerusalem now look down on her. They all look at her as if she were a naked woman. The city groans and turns away in shame.9Her skirts are dirty. She didn’t think about how things might turn out. Her fall from power amazed everyone. And no one was there to comfort her. She said, ‘LORD, please pay attention to how much I’m suffering. My enemies have won the battle over me.’10Jerusalem’s enemies took away all her treasures. Her people saw outsiders enter her temple. The LORD had commanded them not to do that.11All Jerusalem’s people groan as they search for bread. They trade their treasures for food just to stay alive. Jerusalem says, ‘LORD, look at me. Think about my condition. Everyone looks down on me.’12Jerusalem also says, ‘All you who are passing by, don’t you care about what has happened to me? Just look at my condition. Has anyone suffered the way I have? The LORD has brought all this on me. He has made me suffer. His anger has burned against me.13‘He sent down fire from heaven. It went deep down into my bones. He spread a net to catch me by the feet. He stopped me right where I was. He made me empty. I am ill all the time.14‘My sins have been made into a heavy yoke. They were woven together by his hands. They have been placed on my neck. The Lord has taken away my strength. He has handed me over to my enemies. I can’t win the battle over them.15‘The Lord has refused to accept any of my soldiers. He has sent for an army to crush my young men. I am like grapes in the Lord’s winepress. He has trampled on me, even though I am his very own.16‘That’s why I am weeping. Tears are flowing from my eyes. No one is near to comfort me. No one can heal my spirit. My children don’t have anything. My enemies are much too strong for me.’17Zion reaches out her hands. But no one is there to comfort her people. The LORD has ordered that the neighbours of Jacob’s people would become their enemies. Jerusalem has become impure among them.18Jerusalem says, ‘The LORD always does what is right. But I refused to obey his commands. Listen, all you nations. Pay attention to how much I’m suffering. My young men and women have been taken away as prisoners.19‘I called out to those who were going to help me. But they turned against me. My priests and elders died in the city. They were searching for food just to stay alive.20‘LORD, see how upset I am! I am suffering deep down inside. My heart is troubled. Again and again I have refused to obey you. Outside the city, people are being killed by swords. Inside, there is nothing but death.21‘People have heard me groan. But no one is here to comfort me. My enemies have heard about all my troubles. What you have done makes them happy. So please judge them, just as you said you would. Let them become like me.22‘Please pay attention to all their sinful ways. Punish them as you have punished me. You judged me because I had committed so many sins. I groan all the time. And my heart is weak.’