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Lamentations 2:7-17

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Zayin

7 The Lord has rejected His altar, repudiated His sanctuary;[a] He has handed the walls of her palaces over to the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of the Lord as on the day of an appointed festival.

Khet

8 The Lord determined to destroy the wall of Daughter Zion. He stretched out a measuring line[b] and did not restrain Himself from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls grieve; together they waste away.

Tet

9 Zion's gates have fallen to the ground;[c] He has destroyed and shattered the bars on her [gates]. Her king and her leaders [live] among the nations, instruction[d] is no more, and even her prophets receive no vision from the Lord.[e]

Yod

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

Kaf

11 My eyes are worn out from weeping;[h] I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief[i][j] because of the destruction of my dear people,[k] 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?[l] 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?[m]

Nun

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

Samek

15 All who pass by [scornfully] clap their hands[p] at you. They hiss[q] and shake their heads[r] at Daughter Jerusalem: Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty,[s] the joy of the whole earth?[t]

Pe

16 All your enemies open their mouths against you.[u] They hiss and gnash [their] teeth,[v] saying, "We have swallowed [her] up.[w] 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,[x] letting the enemy gloat over you and exalting the horn of your adversaries.
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Lamentations 2:7-17 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 24

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