Lamentations 2:13
New International Version
What can I say for you? With what can I compare you, Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may comfort you, Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?

New Living Translation
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?

English Standard Version
What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is vast as the sea; who can heal you?

Berean Standard Bible
What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?

King James Bible
What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

New King James Version
How shall I console you? To what shall I liken you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare with you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is spread wide as the sea; Who can heal you?

New American Standard Bible
How shall I admonish you? What shall I compare to you, Daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I liken to you as I comfort you, Virgin daughter of Zion? For your collapse is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?

NASB 1995
How shall I admonish you? To what shall I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?

NASB 1977
How shall I admonish you? To what shall I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?

Legacy Standard Bible
What shall I testify about you? To what shall I equate you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your destruction is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?

Amplified Bible
How shall I console you? To what shall I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? With what shall I compare you, so that I may comfort you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?

Christian Standard Bible
What can I say on your behalf? What can I compare you to, Daughter Jerusalem? What can I liken you to, so that I may console you, Virgin Daughter Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea. Who can heal you?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What can I say on your behalf? What can I compare you to, Daughter Jerusalem? What can I liken you to, so that I may console you, Virgin Daughter Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea. Who can heal you?

American Standard Version
What shall I testify unto thee? what shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Mem What shall I testify to you, and to whom shall I liken you, daughter of Jerusalem? With whom shall I compare you and comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion, for your breach is great as the sea? Who shall close it up?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
MEM. What shall I testify to thee, or what shall I compare to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? who shall save and comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for the cup of thy destruction is enlarged: who shall heal thee?

Contemporary English Version
Zion, how can I comfort you? How great is your pain? Lovely city of Jerusalem, how can I heal your wounds, gaping as wide as the sea?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Mem. To what shall I compare thee? or to what shall I liken thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? to what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for great as the sea is thy destruction: who shall heal thee?

English Revised Version
What shall I testify unto thee? what shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"What example can I give you? What parallel can I show you, people of Jerusalem? What comparison can I make that will comfort you, beloved people of Zion? Your wounds are as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?

Good News Translation
O Jerusalem, beloved Jerusalem, what can I say? How can I comfort you? No one has ever suffered like this. Your disaster is boundless as the ocean; there is no possible hope.

International Standard Version
What can be said about you? To what should you be compared, fair Jerusalem? To what may I liken you, so I may comfort you, fair one of Zion? Indeed, your wound is as deep as the sea— who can heal you?

JPS Tanakh 1917
What shall I take to witness for thee? What shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea; Who can heal thee?

Literal Standard Version
What do I testify [to] you, what do I liken to you, | O daughter of Jerusalem? What do I equal to you, and I comfort you, | O virgin daughter of Zion? For great as a sea [is] your breach, | Who gives healing to you?

Majority Standard Bible
What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?

New American Bible
To what can I compare you —to what can I liken you— O daughter Jerusalem? What example can I give in order to comfort you, virgin daughter Zion? For your breach is vast as the sea; who could heal you?

NET Bible
With what can I equate you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you so that I might comfort you, O Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?

New Revised Standard Version
What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can heal you?

New Heart English Bible
What shall I testify of you? What shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is great like the sea. Who can heal you?

Webster's Bible Translation
What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

World English Bible
What shall I testify to you? What shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is as big as the sea. Who can heal you?

Young's Literal Translation
What do I testify to thee, what do I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What do I equal to thee, and I comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For great as a sea is thy breach, Who doth give healing to thee?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Anger over Jerusalem
12They cry out to their mothers: “Where is the grain and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives fade away in the arms of their mothers. 13What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you? 14The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.…

Cross References
2 Kings 19:21
This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.

Isaiah 37:22
this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?

Jeremiah 14:17
You are to speak this word to them: 'My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

Jeremiah 30:12
For this is what the LORD says: "Your injury is incurable; your wound is grievous.

Lamentations 1:12
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?

Daniel 9:12
You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.


Treasury of Scripture

What thing shall I take to witness for you? what thing shall I liken to you, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? for your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?

shall I take

Lamentations 1:12
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.

Daniel 9:12
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

for

2 Samuel 5:20
And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

Psalm 60:2
Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

Jeremiah 14:17
Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

who can

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah 30:12-15
For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous…

Jeremiah 51:8,9
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed…

Jump to Previous
Admonish Breach Comfort Compare Comparison Daughter Destruction Equal Example Great Heal Jerusalem Liken Restore Ruin Sea Testify Vast Virgin Witness Wound Zion
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Admonish Breach Comfort Compare Comparison Daughter Destruction Equal Example Great Heal Jerusalem Liken Restore Ruin Sea Testify Vast Virgin Witness Wound Zion
Lamentations 2
1. Jeremiah laments the misery of Jerusalem
20. He complains thereof to God














(13) What thing shall I take to witness . . .--Practically the question is the same as that which follows, and implies that there was no parallel to the sufferings of Zion in the history of the past. Had there been, and had it been surmounted, it might have been cited in evidence, and some consolation might have been derived from it. As it was there was no such parallel, no such witness. Her "breach," i.e., her ruin, was illimitable as the ocean, and therefore irremediable.

Verse 13. - What thing shall I take to witness for thee? rather, What shall I testify unto thee? The nature, of the testifying may be gathered from the following words. It would be a comfort to Zion to know that her misfortune was not unparalleled: solamen miseris socios habuisse malorum. The expression is odd, however, and, comparing Isaiah 40:18, A. Krochmal has suggested, What shall I compare? The correction is easy. Equal; i.e. compare (comp. Isaiah 46:5)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
What
מָֽה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can I say for you?
אֲעִידֵ֞ךְ (’ă·‘î·ḏêḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5749: To duplicate, repeat, to protest, testify, to encompass, restore

To
לָּ֗ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

what
מָ֣ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can I compare you,
אֲדַמֶּה־ (’ă·ḏam·meh-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1819: To compare, to resemble, liken, consider

O daughter
הַבַּת֙ (hab·baṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of Jerusalem?
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

To
לָּךְ֙ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

what
מָ֤ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can I liken you,
אַשְׁוֶה־ (’aš·weh-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7737: To level, equalize, to resemble, to adjust

that I may console you,
וַאֲנַֽחֲמֵ֔ךְ (wa·’ă·na·ḥă·mêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

O virgin
בְּתוּלַ֖ת (bə·ṯū·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1330: A virgin, sometimes, a bride

Daughter
בַּת־ (baṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of Zion?
צִיּ֑וֹן (ṣî·yō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6726: Zion -- a mountain in Jerusalem, also a name for Jerusalem

For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

your wound
שִׁבְרֵ֖ךְ (šiḇ·rêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 7667: A breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash

is as deep
גָד֥וֹל (ḡā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

as the sea.
כַּיָּ֛ם (kay·yām)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

Who
מִ֥י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

can ever heal you?
יִרְפָּא־ (yir·pā-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure


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OT Prophets: Lamentations 2:13 What shall I testify to you? What (Lam. La Lm)
Lamentations 2:12
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