Lamentations

Lamentations 1 ©

1 The miserable estate of Jerusalem by reason of her sin: 12 she bemoaneth her afflictions: 18 she confesseth God's judgments to be just, and prayeth against her insulting enemies.

1

HOW doth the city asit solitary, that bwas full of people! how is she become cas a widow! she that was dgreat among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become etributary!

2

She fweepeth *sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: gamong all her lovers she hath none to comfort her : all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

3

hJudah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and 1because of great servitude: ishe dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all jher persecutors overtook her between the straits.

4

The kways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: lher priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

5

mHer adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for nthe LORD hath afflicted her ofor the multitude of her transgressions: pher children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

6

And from the daughter of Zion qall her beauty is departed: rher princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7

Jerusalem sremembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her 2pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when ther people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries usaw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

8

vJerusalem hath grievously sinned; wtherefore she 3is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because xthey have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

9

yHer filthiness is in her skirts; she zremembereth not her last end; therefore she acame down wonderfully: bshe had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath cmagnified himself.

b v.2,17,21.
10

The adversary dhath spread out his hand upon all her 4pleasant things: for she hath seen that ethe heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that fthey should not enter into thy congregation.

11

All her people sigh, gthey seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for *meat 5to relieve the soul: hsee, O LORD, and consider; for I am ibecome *vile.

12

6Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass 7by? behold, and see if jthere be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13

From kabove hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: lhe hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: mhe hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

14

nThe yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are owreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord phath delivered me into their hands, from whom qI am not able to rise up.

15

The Lord rhath trodden under foot all smy mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord thath trodden the 8virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

16

For uthese things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should 9relieve my soul is far from me: vmy children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

17

wZion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: xthe LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be yround about him: Jerusalem is zas a menstruous woman among them.

y Ho. 8.8.
18

¶The aLORD is righteous; for bI have rebelled against his 10commandment: chear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: dmy virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19

eI called for my lovers, but they deceived me: fmy priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their *meat to relieve their souls.

20

gBehold, O LORD; for I am in distress: hmy *bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; ifor I have jgrievously rebelled: k*abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

g v.9,11.
i Ps. 51.3,4.
21

lThey have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: mall mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they nare glad that thou hast done it : othou wilt bring the day that thou hast 11called, and they shall be plike unto me.

l v.12,18,16,17,19,9.
22

qLet all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as rthou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for smy sighs are many, and my heart is faint.