1
Howlonelysits the city That was full of people! She has become like a widowWho was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces Has become a forcedlaborer!
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She weepsbitterly in the night And her tears are on her cheeks; She hasnone to comfort her Amongall her lovers. All her friends have dealttreacherously with her; They have become her enemies.
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Judah has gone into exileunderaffliction And underharshservitude; She dwells among the nations, But she has foundnorest; All her pursuers have overtaken her In the midst of distress.
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The roads of Zion are in mourningBecause*no one comes to the appointedfeasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests are groaning, Her virgins are afflicted, And she herself is bitter.
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Her adversaries have become her masters, Her enemiesprosper; For the LORD has caused her griefBecause of the multitude of her transgressions; Her littleones have gone away As captivesbefore the adversary.
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All her majesty Has departed from the daughter of Zion; Her princes have become like deer That have foundnopasture; And they have fledwithoutstrengthBefore the pursuer.
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In the days of her affliction and homelessnessJerusalemremembersall her preciousthings That were from the days of old, When her peoplefell into the hand of the adversary And noonehelped her. The adversariessaw her, They mocked at her ruin.
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Jerusalemsinnedgreatly, Therefore* she has become an uncleanthing. All who honored her despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Even she herselfgroans and turnsaway.
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Her uncleanness was in her skirts; She did not consider her future. Therefore she has fallenastonishingly; She hasnocomforter. "See, O LORD, my affliction, For the enemy has magnified himself!"
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The adversary has stretched out his handOverall her preciousthings, For she has seen the nationsenter her sanctuary, The ones whom You commanded That they should not enter into Your congregation.
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All her peoplegroanseekingbread; They have given their preciousthings for food To restore their lives themselves. "See, O LORD, and look, For I amdespised."
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"Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and seeifthere is anypain like my painWhich was severelydealt out to me, Which the LORDinflicted on the day of His fierceanger.
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"From on high He sentfire into my bones, And it prevailed over them. He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back; He has made me desolate, Faintallday long.
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"The yoke of my transgressions is bound; By His hand they are knittogether. They have come upon my neck; He has made my strengthfail. The Lord has given me into the hands Of those against whom I am not able to stand.
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"The Lord has rejectedall my strongmen In my midst; He has called an appointedtimeagainst me To crush my youngmen; The Lord has trodden as in a winepress The virgindaughter of Judah.
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"For thesethings I weep; My eyesrundown with water; Becausefar from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul. My children are desolateBecause the enemy has prevailed."
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Zionstretches out her hands; There is noone to comfort her; The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob That the ones roundabout him should be his adversaries; Jerusalem has become an uncleanthingamong them.
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"The LORD is righteous; For I have rebelledagainst His command; Hearnow, allpeoples, And behold my pain; My virgins and my youngmen Have gone into captivity.
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"I called to my lovers, but they deceived me; My priests and my eldersperished in the cityWhile they soughtfood to restore their strength themselves.
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"See, O LORD, for I am in distress; My spirit is greatlytroubled; My heart is overturnedwithin me, For I have been veryrebellious. In the street the swordslays; In the house it is like death.
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"They have heard that I groan; There is noone to comfort me; All my enemies have heard of my calamity; They are glad that You have done it. Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed, That they may becomelike me.
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"Let all their wickednesscomebefore You; And deal with them as You have dealt with me For all my transgressions; For my groans are many and my heart is faint."