“1 How 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! 2 She
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. 3 Judah 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. 4 The 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. 5 Her
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. 6 And 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.
7 Jerusalem 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. 8 Jerusalem 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. 9 Her 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]. 10
The 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. 11 All
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.”
“12 [Is 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.
13 From 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. 14 The 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. 15 The 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. 16 For
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. 17 Zion 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. 18 The 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. 19 I 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. 20 Behold, 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. 21 They 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. 22 Let 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 1:1-22 AV)