Lamentations 2:8-18

8 The LORD has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Tziyon; He has stretched out the line, he has not withdrawn his hand from destroying; He has made the rampart and wall to lament; they languish together.

9 Her gates are sunk into the ground; he has destroyed and broken her bars: Her king and her princes are among the nations where the law is not; Yes, her prophets find no vision from the LORD.

10 The Zakenim of the daughter of Tziyon sit on the ground, they keep silence; They have cast up dust on their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: The virgins of Yerushalayim hang down their heads to the ground.

11 My eyes do fail with tears, my heart is troubled; My liver is poured on the eretz, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, Because the young children and the infants swoon in the streets of the city.

12 They tell their mothers, Where is grain and wine? When they swoon as the wounded in the streets of the city, When their soul is poured out into their mothers' bosom.

13 What shall I testify to you? what shall I liken to you, daughter of Yerushalayim? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Tziyon? For your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?

14 Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, But have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.

15 All that pass by clap their hands at you; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Yerushalayim, [saying], Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole eretz?

16 All your enemies have opened their mouth wide against you; They hiss and gnash the teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up; Certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

17 The LORD has done that which he purposed; he has fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He has thrown down, and has not pitied: He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; he has exalted the horn of your adversaries.

18 Their heart cried to the Lord: wall of the daughter of Tziyon, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no respite; don't let the apple of your eye cease.

Lamentations 2:8-18 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.