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Lamentations 2:10-20

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Yod

10 The elders of Daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dust on their heads[a] and put on sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.[b]

Kaf

11 My eyes are worn out from weeping;[c] I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief[d][e] because of the destruction of my dear people,[f] because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.

Lamed

12 They cry out to their mothers: Where is the grain and wine?[g] as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives fade away in the arms of their mothers.

Mem

13 What can I say on your behalf? To what can I compare you, 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?[h]

Nun

14 Your prophets saw visions for you that were empty and deceptive;[i] they did not reveal your guilt and so restore your fortunes.[j] They saw oracles for you that were empty and misleading.

Samek

15 All who pass by [scornfully] clap their hands[k] at you. They hiss[l] and shake their heads[m] at Daughter Jerusalem: Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty,[n] the joy of the whole earth?[o]

Pe

16 All your enemies open their mouths against you.[p] They hiss and gnash [their] teeth,[q] saying, "We have swallowed [her] up.[r] This is the day we have waited for! We have lived to see [it]."

Ayin

17 The Lord has done what He planned; He has accomplished His decree, which He ordained in days of old. He has demolished without compassion,[s] letting the enemy gloat over you and exalting the horn of your adversaries.

Tsade

18 The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. Wall of Daughter Zion,[t] let [your] tears run down like a river day and night.[u] Give yourself no relief and your[v] eyes no rest.

Qof

19 Arise, cry out in the night, from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water before the Lord's presence.[w] Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.[x]

Resh

20 Lord, look and consider who You have done this to. Should women eat their own children, the infants they have nurtured?[y] Should priests and prophets be killed in the Lord's sanctuary?
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Lamentations 2:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 2

This chapter contains another alphabet, in which the Prophet Jeremiah, or those he represents, lament the sad condition of Jerusalem; the destruction of the city and temple, and of all persons and things relative to them, and to its civil or church state; and that as being from the hand of the Lord himself, who is represented all along as the author thereof, because of their sins, La 2:1-9; and then the elders and virgins of Zion are represented as in great distress, and weeping for those desolations; which were very much owing to the false prophets, that had deceived them, La 2:10-14; and all this occasioned great rejoicing in the enemies of Zion, La 2:15-17; but sorrow of heart to Zion herself, who is called to weeping, La 2:18,19; and the chapter is concluded with an address to the Lord, to take this her sorrowful case into consideration, and show pity and compassion, La 2:20-22.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 25

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.