Lamentations
The Prophet Speaks:
a (Alef)0
1:11 Alas!2
The city once full of people3
now sits all alone!4
She who was once prominent5 among the nations
has become a widow!6
The princess7 who once ruled over the provinces8
has become9 a forced laborer!10
b (Bet)
1:2 She weeps bitterly at night;
tears stream down her cheeks.11
There is no one to comfort her
among all her former lovers.12
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
they have become her enemies.
g (Gimel)
1:3 The people of Judah13 have gone into exile under14 affliction
and under15 harsh oppression.16
They17 now live in other nations,
but find no rest.
All who pursued them18 have overtaken them
in19 narrow straits.20
d (Dalet)
1:4 The roads leading to Zion21 are in mourning,22
because no one23 travels down their paths24 to celebrate25 the festivals.26
All her city-gates27 are deserted;28
her priests groan in grief.29
Her virgins are filled with sorrow;30
Jerusalem31 is in bitter anguish!32
h (He)
1:5 Her foes subjugated her;33
her enemies plundered34 her possessions.35
For the LORD afflicted her
because of her many acts of rebellion.36
Her children were driven away37
as prisoners38 before the enemy.
w (Vav)
1:6 Everything in which she had gloried39
has been taken away40 from41 Zion.42
Her leaders were like deer
who could not find any hiding place;43
they were too exhausted to flee44
from the hunter.45
z (Zayin)
1:7 Jerusalem remembers,46
when47 she became a poor homeless person,48
all the treasures--possessions that
belonged to her in days of old.49
When her people fell into the grasp50 of the enemy,
none of her allies came to her rescue.51
Her enemies52 gloat over53 her;
they laughed contemptuously54 at her downfall.55
j (Khet)
1:8 Jerusalem has committed heinous sin;56
therefore, she has become an object of scorn.57
All who once respected her now despise her,58
because they have seen her nakedness.59
She herself groans aloud60
and turns away in shame.61
f (Tet)
1:9 Her menstrual filth62 has soiled63 her own clothing;64
she did not consider65 the consequences of her sin.66
Her demise67 occurred in an astonishing way,68
and there was no one to comfort her.
She cried,69 "Look, O LORD, on my70 affliction,
because my71 enemy boasts!"
y (Yod)
1:10 The enemy seized72
all her valuable possessions.73
She watched in horror74 as Gentiles invaded her holy temple,75
whom you had forbidden:
"They may not enter your assembly place."76
k (Kaf)
1:11 All her former inhabitants77 groan
as they search for a morsel of bread.78
They are forced to sell79 their prized possessions80
just to purchase81 enough food
to keep themselves alive.82
Jerusalem Speaks:
Look, O LORD!
Consider that I have become worthless!
l (Lamed)
1:12 O you who pass by on the road,
is it nothing to you?
Consider and see:
Is there any pain like my pain?
The LORD83 brought it on me;
he84 inflicted it on me when85 he burned with anger.86
m (Mem)
1:13 He sent down87 fierce88 fire into my bones,
and it prevailed89 against them.
He stretched a trapper's net90 to ensnare91 my feet;
he made me turn back.
He made me desolate,
sick all day long.
n (Nun)
1:14 My sins are bound around my neck like a yoke,92
they are lashed tight together93 by his hand.
He has placed his yoke94 on my neck;95
he has made me weak.96
The LORD97 has handed me over98
to those whom I am powerless to resist.
s (Samek)
1:15 The LORD has hurled99 all my valiant warriors
out of 100 my midst.
He summoned a legal assembly101 against me
to crush my young warriors.
As in a wine press,102 the LORD has trampled down
the virgin daughter of Judah.103
u (Ayin)
1:16 I weep on account of these things;
my eyes104 flow with tears.105
For there is no one to comfort me anywhere near,106
no one who could encourage me.107
My inhabitants108 are desolated109
because the enemy has prevailed.
The Prophet Speaks:
p (Pe)
1:17 Zion spread out her hands,
but there is no one to comfort her.
The LORD has issued a decree against Jacob:
The nations that surround him110 will become his enemies.
They treat Jerusalem111
like filthy garbage112 in their midst.113
Jerusalem Speaks:
x (Tsade)
1:18 The LORD is right to judge me!114
For I rebelled against his commands.115
Listen, all you peoples,116
and behold my suffering!
My young men and women
have been taken prisoner into exile.117
q (Qof)
1:19 I called for my lovers,118
but they deceived me.
My priests and my elders died of hunger in the city,
while119 searching for food that120 might have kept them121 alive.122
r (Resh)
1:20 Look, O LORD, because I am in distress,123
my stomach is in knots!124
My heart is turning over125 inside me,
because I know how terribly rebellious I had been!126
In the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children;127
the rest die of hunger inside their homes.128
? (Sin/Shin)
1:21 They have heard129 that I groan,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that you130 have brought it about.131
May you bring about132 the time of judgment133 that you promised,134
so that135 they may be judged136 like me!
t (Tav)
1:22 Let all their wickedness come before you;
may you deal with them
just as you have dealt with me,137
because of all my acts of rebellion.138
For my groans are many,
and my heart is full of sorrow.139
The Prophet Speaks:
a (Alef)
2:1 Alas!1
The LORD has covered2 Zion3
with the cloud of his anger!
He has thrown down the splendor of Israel
from heaven to earth;
he did not protect4 the temple5
when he displayed his anger.6
b (Bet)
2:2 The LORD7 has destroyed8 all the homes of Jacob's descendants;9
and10 he has shown no mercy.
In his wrath he has torn down
every fortified city11 in Judah.12
He has toppled13 the kingdom and its rulers,
putting them to shame.14
g (Gimel)
2:3 In his15 fierce anger16 he destroyed17
the whole army18 of Israel.
He withdrew his protection19
when the advancing enemy army attacked.20
He was like a raging fire burning up21 the land of Jacob's descendants;22
it consumed everything around it.
d (Dalet)
2:4 Like an enemy he strung23 his archer's bow;
his right hand was ready to shoot.24
Like a foe he has slain
all our vigorous young men;25
he has poured out his wrath like fire
on the tents26 of Zion.27
h (He)
2:5 The LORD28 was like an enemy;
he has devastated29 Israel.
He has devastated30 all its31 palaces
and has destroyed its32 fortified cities.
He made everyone in Judah33
mourn and lament.34
w (Vav)
2:6 He has laid waste his temple35 like a vineyard;36
he has destroyed his appointed meeting place.
The LORD has made it impossible for the city of Zion37
to celebrate38 the appointed festivals and sabbaths.
In his fierce anger39 he has rejected40
Judah's king and priests.41
z (Zayin)
2:7 The LORD42 has rejected his altar
and has abandoned his temple.43
He allowed the enemy to capture44
the fortified palaces in Jerusalem;45
The enemy46 shouted in celebration47 in the temple48 of the LORD,
like on the day appointed to celebrate a religious feast.49
j (Khet)
2:8 The LORD was determined to tear down
the walls around the city of Zion.50
He marked out the walls of Jerusalem for destruction,51
and he did not relent52 until they were destroyed.53
He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament;
both of them mourned their destruction.54
f (Tet)
2:9 The city gates55 have fallen down56 to the ground;
the bars that lock the gates57 have been smashed to pieces.58
Jerusalem's king and princes59 were taken into exile in other countries;60
there is no longer any guidance available.61
As for her prophets,
they can no longer obtain62 a vision from the LORD.
y (Yod)
2:10 The elders of the city of Zion63
sit64 on the ground in silence;65
they have thrown ashes on their heads;
they clothed themselves with66 sackcloth.
The young single women67 of Jerusalem
stare down at the ground in grief.68
k (Kaf)
2:11 My eyes are worn out69 because of all my tears;70
my stomach is in knots.71
My bile72 is poured out on the ground,
because of the destruction73 of my beloved Jerusalem,74
because infants and new-born babies faint from hunger75
in the streets of the city.
l (Lamed)
2:12 Children76 cry out to their mothers77
for food and drink.78
Then they lose consciousness79 like a wounded warrior
in the streets of the city.
Then they die slowly80
in the arms81 of their mothers.
m (Mem)
2:13 With what can I equate82 you?
To what can I compare you, O Jerusalem?83
To what can I liken you,84
so that85 I might comfort you, O City of Zion?86
Your wound is as deep87 as the sea;88
No one can heal you!89
n (Nun)
2:14 The visions that your prophets proclaimed to you90
were empty91 lies;92
they failed to expose your sin,
thus delivering you from exile.93
They proclaimed94 oracles to you
that were false95 deceptions.96
s (Samek)
2:15 All who pass by you on the road
clap their hands to mock you;97
they sneer and shake their heads
at Jerusalem:98
"Ha! This is the city whose former inhabitants said,99
`It is perfect in beauty,100
the source of joy101 to the whole earth!'"102
p (Pe)
2:16 All your enemies
jeer at you.103
They sneer and gnash their teeth;
they say, "We have destroyed104 her!
Ha! We have waited a long time for this day!
We have actually lived to see it!"105
u (Ayin)
2:17 The LORD has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled106 his promise107
which he threatened108 to do long ago:109
he has overthrown you without mercy.110
He has allowed the enemy gloat over you;
he has enabled your adversaries to boast111 about their military might.112
x (Tsade)
2:18 Cry out113 earnestly114 to the LORD,115
O Wall of Zion!116
Let your tears flow like a river
from dawn to dusk!117
Do not allow yourself any rest;
do not let your tears118 stop!
q (Qof)
2:19 Get up! Cry out for help in the night119
at the beginning120 of the night watches!
Pour out your laments121 like water
before the presence of the LORD!122
Lift up your hands to him
on behalf of the lives123 of your children,
who124 are dying125 from hunger
at every street corner.126
Jerusalem Speaks:
r (Resh)
2:20 O LORD, think about it!127
Whom have you ever treated like this?
Should women cannibalize the children they have borne,128
perfectly healthy newborn infants?129
Should priest and prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the LORD?130
? (Sin/Shin)
2:21 The young and old lie dead together
in the dust131 of the streets;
the young men and single young women132 of Jerusalem133
have fallen by the sword.
You killed them when you were angry;134
you slaughtered them without pity.135
t (Tav)
2:22 You invited, as though on an appointed festival day,136
enemies137 to terrify me138 on every side.139
When the LORD became angry,140
no one escaped or survived.
The perfectly healthy children whom I bore141 and raised,142
my enemy has destroyed.
The Prophet Speaks:
a (Alef)
3:1 I am the man1 who has experienced2 affliction
from the disciplining rod3 of his wrath.
3:2 He has driven me into captivity,4
and made me walk5 in deep darkness.6
3:3 He repeatedly7 attacked me8
over and over, continually.9
b (Bet)
3:4 He has caused my mortal skin10 to waste away;
he has broken my bones.
3:5 He has besieged11 and surrounded12 me
with bitter hardship.13
3:6 He has made me reside in intense darkness14
like those who died long ago.
g (Gimel)
3:7 He has walled me in15 so that I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with heavy prison chains.16
3:8 Even though I cry out desperately17 for help,18
he shuts his ears to my prayer.19
3:9 He has blocked20 every road I take21 with a wall of fitted stones;
he has made every path on which I flee22 impossible to traverse.23
d (Dalet)
3:10 He is like a bear lying in wait for me,24
like a hidden lion25 stalking its prey.26
3:11 He dragged me from the path27 and tore me to pieces,
and mangled me beyond rescue.28
3:12 He drew29 his bow
and made me30 the target for his arrows.31
h (He)
3:13 He shot32 his arrows33
into my heart.34
3:14 I have become the laughingstock of all people;35
I am the subject of their mockery36 continually.37
3:15 He has made me eat bitter herbs,
and made me drink stagnant water.38
w (Vav)
3:16 He has broken39 my teeth with gravel;
he has made me cower40 in ashes.
3:17 I41 am deprived42 of peace;
I have forgotten what happiness is.
3:18 So I said, "My endurance has perished,
I have lost all hope of deliverance43 from the LORD."
z (Zayin)
3:19 Just thinking about44 my impoverished and homeless condition45
is bitter poison.46
3:20 When I47 continually think about48 this,
I49 become emotionally depressed.50
3:21 But this I call51 to mind,52
therefore I have hope:
j (Khet)
3:22 The LORD's many kindnesses never cease,53
for his great compassion54 never comes to an end.
3:23 They are renewed55 every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!56
3:24 I said to myself,57 "The LORD is the portion of my inheritance;58
therefore, I will put my hope in him."
f (Tet)
3:25 The LORD is good to those who trust59 in him,
to the one60 who seeks him.
3:26 It is good to wait patiently61
for deliverance to come62 from the LORD.63
3:27 It is good for a man64 to bear the yoke65
while he is young.66
y (Yod)
3:28 Let a person67 sit alone in silence,
when the LORD68 is disciplining69 him.
3:29 Let him bury his face in the dust;70
there may yet be hope.
3:30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him;71
let him have his fill of insults.
k (Kaf)
3:31 For the LORD72 will not
reject us forever.73
3:32 Though he has caused us74 grief, he will have compassion on us,75
according to the abundance of his kindness.76
3:33 For he does not enjoy bringing affliction77
nor causing grief to mortal men.78
l (Lamed)
3:34 To crush underfoot
all the prisoners in the land,79
3:35 to deprive a man of his rights
in the presence of the Most High,
3:36 to subvert a man in his just cause--
the LORD80 does not approve81 of such things!
m (Mem)
3:37 Whose command was ever fulfilled82
unless the LORD83 had decreed it?
3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that everything comes--
both calamity and blessings?84
3:39 Why should any living man complain
when he is punished for his sins?85
n (Nun)
3:40 Let us carefully examine our ways,86
and let us return to the LORD.
3:41 Let us lift up our hearts87 and our hands
to God in heaven:
3:42 "We have sinned rebelliously;88
you have not forgiven."
s (Samek)
3:43 You have clothed yourself with anger and pursued us;
you have slaughtered us without pity.
3:44 You have hidden89 yourself in a cloud
so that no prayer can pass through.
3:45 You have made us like filthy excrement90
in the estimation91 of the nations.
p (Pe)
3:46 All our enemies brashly proclaim threats92
against us.
3:47 Panic and pitfall93 have come upon us,
devastation and destruction.94
3:48 Streams95 of tears flow from my eyes96
because my people97 are destroyed.98
u (Ayin)
3:49 Tears flow from my eyes99 unceasingly;
they will not stop100
3:50 until the LORD looks down
from heaven and sees what has happened.101
3:51 What my eyes see102 causes grief to me103
on account of104 all the women in my city.
x (Tsade)
3:52 For no good reason,105 my enemies
have hunted me down106 like a bird.
3:53 They have tried to end my life in a pit,
by107 throwing stones on me.
3:54 The waters closed over my head,
I thought108 that I was about to die.109
q (Qof)
3:55 I called on your name, O LORD,
from the depths of the pit.110
3:56 You heard my plea:111
"Do not close your ears to my cry for help!"112
3:57 You came near when I called to you;
you said, "Do not fear!"
r (Resh)
3:58 You championed my113 cause, O LORD;114
you redeemed my life.
3:59 You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD;
may you issue judgment on my behalf!115
3:60 You have seen all their vengeance,
all their plots against me.116
? (Sin/Shin)
3:61 You have heard their taunts, O LORD,
all their plots against me.
3:62 My assailants revile and conspire117
against me all day long.
3:63 Look at them!118 From morning to evening119
I am the object of their mocking songs.
t (Tav)
3:64 Pay them back120 what they deserve,121 O LORD,
according to what they122 have done.123
3:65 Render their hearts hard;124
may your curse be on them!
3:66 Pursue them125 in anger and eradicate them
from under heaven, which belongs to you, O LORD!126
The Prophet Speaks:
a (Alef)
4:1 Alas!1
The gold has lost its luster;2
the solid gold objects3 have lost their4 shine!5
The sacred gems6 are scattered
at every street corner.7
b (Bet)
4:2 The precious sons of Zion
were once worth their weight in gold.
Alas! Now they are no more valued than8 broken clay potsherds
made by a potter.9
g (Gimel)
4:3 Even the jackels10 nurse their young
at their breast;11
but my people12 have become cruel
like ostriches13 in the desert.
d (Dalet)
4:4 The infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth
due to thirst;
Little children beg for food,14
but no one has even any bread to give to them.15
h (He)
4:5 Those who once feasted on delicacies
are now starving to death16 in the streets.
Those who grew up17 wearing expensive clothes18
are now dying19 on the ash heaps.
w (Vav)
4:6 The punishment20 of my people21
is greater than the punishment22 of Sodom,
which was overthown in a moment
and no one lifted a hand23 to help her.
z (Zayin)
4:7 Her princes were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies more ruddy than rubies;
their appearance24 was like sapphires.
j (Khet)
4:8 Now their appearance25 is darker than soot;
no one even recognizes who they are26 in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become dry like wood.
f (Tet)
4:9 Those who were killed by the sword27 are better off
than those who die of hunger;28
they29 waste away,30
struck down31 by lack of32 food.33
y (Yod)
4:10 With their own hands, tenderhearted women34
have cooked35 their own children,
who became their food
when my people36 were destroyed.37
k (Kaf)
4:11 The LORD has fully vented38 his wrath;
he has poured out his fierce anger.39
He kindled a fire in Zion
which destroyed40 the very foundation stones of the city walls.41
l (Lamed)
4:12 Neither the kings of the foreign nations42
nor the people of the lands43 ever thought it possible44
that enemy or foe could ever conquer45
the city46 of Jerusalem.
m (Mem)
4:13 But it happened47 because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,
who unjustly killed48 the righteous
within the city.49
n (Nun)
4:14 Now they wander blindly through the streets,
ritually defiled with the blood they shed,50
so that no one dares
to touch their garments.
s (Samek)
4:15 Men cry to them, "Stay away! You are unclean!"
"Stay away! Go away! Don't touch us!"
So they have fled and wander about;
but the nations say,51 "They may not stay with us here any longer."
p (Pe)
4:16 The LORD himself52 has scattered them;
he no longer watches over them.
The priests will not be shown consideration,53
the elders will not be spared.54
The People of Jerusalem Lament:
u (Ayin)
4:17 Our eyes continually failed us,
as we looked in vain for help.55
From our watchtowers we watched expectantly
for a nation that could not rescue us.
x (Tsade)
4:18 Our enemies56 hunted us down at every step;57
we could not even walk about publicly in our streets.58
Our end drew near, our days were numbered,59
for our end had come!
q (Qof)
4:19 Those who pursued us60 were swifter
than vultures61 in the sky.62
They chased us over the mountains;
they set an ambush63 for us in the wilderness.
r (Resh)
4:20 Our very life breath--the king anointed by the LORD64--
was caught in their traps.65
We thought66 that under his protection67
we would survive among the nations.
The Prophet Speaks:
? (Sin/Shin)
4:21 Rejoice and be glad for now,68 O people of Edom,69
you who reside70 in the land of Uz.
But the wine cup of judgment71 will be passed to you also;
you will become drunk and strip yourself naked.
t (Tav)
4:22 O people of Zion,72 your punishment73 will eventually come to an end;74
he will not prolong your exile.75
But, O people of Edom,76 he will punish your sin77
and reveal78 your treachery!
The People of Jerusalem Pray:
5:1 O LORD, consider1 what has happened to us;
please pay attention2 and take notice3 of the disgrace we are suffering.4
5:2 Strangers have taken possession5 of the land that we inherited,6
foreigners now occupy our homes.7
5:3 We have become orphans and fatherless,
our mothers have become widows.
5:4 We must pay money8 to drink our own water;9
we must buy our own wood at a steep price.10
5:5 We are pursued--our adversaries are breathing down our necks;11
we are physically worn out and cannot find any rest.
5:6 We have made treaties12 with Egypt and Assyria
just to acquire enough food13 to keep us alive.14
5:7 Our ancestors15 sinned and are now dead,16
so17 we are left to bear18 their punishment.19
5:8 Tyrants20 rule over us;
there is no one to rescue us from their control.21
5:9 We risk22 our lives23 when we search for food24
because murderous marauders lurk25 in the countryside.26
5:10 Our skin is hot as an oven;
we are feverish from hunger.27
5:11 Our wives28 have been raped29 in the City of Zion;30
our virgin daughters31 have been ravished32 in the towns of Judah.
5:12 They33 executed the royal family34 by hanging;35
they have mistreated our elders.36
5:13 They force our young men to perform menial physical labor;37
they make our boys carry heavy loads of wood.38
5:14 The elders no longer conduct business at the city gate;39
the young men have stopped playing their joyful music.
5:15 Our hearts no longer experience any joy;40
instead of dancing with joy, we mourn and lament.41
5:16 The crown has fallen from our head;
woe to us, for we have sinned!
5:17 Because of this, we42 are very sorrowful;43
because of these things, we can hardly see44 through our tears.45
5:18 For wild animals46 are prowling over Mount Zion,
which lies deserted.47
5:19 But you, O LORD, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.
5:20 Why have you forgotten48 us forever?
Why do you forsake us so long?
5:21 Bring us back to yourself, O LORD, and let us return49 to you;
renew50 our life51 as in ancient times.52
5:22 Or53 are you determined to reject us once and for all?54
Are you angry with us beyond limit?55