Lamentations 1:8-22 ▼

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.

10 The oppressor has stretched out his hands upon all her pleasant things; for I have seen the Gentiles violate thy 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 precious things for food to relieve their soul; see, O LORD, and consider; for I am despised.

12 Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Understand, and see if there is any pain like my pain, which the LORD has dealt to me; for the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13 From above he sent fire into my bones, and it has brought me low; he has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back; he has delivered me to the sword and I am miserable all the day.

14 My sins have wrought vengeance upon me; his yokes are bound by his hands upon my neck; my strength has failed; the LORD has delivered me into the hands of those before whom I cannot stand.

15 The LORD has brought into subjection all my mighty men in the midst of me; he has called an assembly against me to destroy my young men; the LORD has trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah.

16 For these things I weep; my eyes run down with tears, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me; my children are desolate, because the enemy has prevailed.

17 Zion stretches out her hands, and there is none to comfort her; the LORD has given commands against Jacob, and his oppressors are round about him; Jerusalem has become loathsome among them.

18 The LORD is righteous; and I have rebelled against him; hear, all you peoples, and behold my grief; my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me; my priests and my elders perished in the city; they searched for food to relieve their souls, but they found it not.

20 Behold, O LORD, I am in distress; my soul is troubled, my heart is in pain; for I have grievously rebelled; outside the sword devours, and those who are in the house death consumes.

21 They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me; all my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it; hasten thou the day that thou hast announced, the enemy shall become like me.

22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; harass them, as thou hast harassed me for all my transgressions; for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.