Lamentations 1:1-9 ▼

1 HOW does the city sit solitary that was full of people! How is she become like a widow! She that was so great among the nations, and she that was a princess of the cities has become a tributary!

2 She weeps bitterly in the night, and her tears run 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.

3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude; she dwells among the Gentiles, she finds no rest; all her pursuers overtook her in the midst of her affliction.

4 The ways of Zion mourn because none come to the solemn feasts; all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh, her virgins are humbled? and she is in bitterness.

5 Her oppressors have become her rulers, and her adversaries have made an end of her; for the LORD has afflicted her for the multitude of her sins; her children are gone into captivity before the oppressor.

6 And from the daughter of Zion all her splendor is departed; her princes have become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and of her chastisement all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the oppressor and she had none to help her, her oppressors saw her, and mocked at her destruction.

8 Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she has become an abomination; all who honored her, despise her, because they see her nakedness; yea, she sighs and turns backward.

9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she was not mindful of her end; therefore her glory is low; she has no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction; for the enemy has magnified himself.