1 ¶ How empty she sits, the city once full of people! she who was once great among the nations is now like a widow! she who was a princess among the provinces, has become tributary!

2 She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks: among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her: her friends all betrayed her, and became her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into captivity, and because of affliction and harsh servitude finds no rest dwelling among the heathen: those who hunted her caught up with her in a narrow place.

4 The roads to Zion are sorrowful, because no one comes to the solemn feasts: all her gates are deserted: her priests sigh, her virgins are weeping, and she is in bitterness.

5 Her adversaries are in control, her enemies prosper; for the LORD has afflicted her because of her many sins: her children have gone into captivity before the enemy.

6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty has departed: her leaders have become like deer that find no pasture, and flee without strength before the hunter.

7 In the days of her affliction and misery Jerusalem remembers all the pleasant things that she had in the past. When her people fell into the hand of the enemy, no one helped her: the adversaries look at her, and mock her sabbath rest.

8 Jerusalem has sinned grievously; therefore like something filthy she is removed: all who honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sighs, and turns away.

9 Her skirts were filthy; but she did not seriously consider her final end; therefore her downfall was astonishing: she had no comforter. O LORD, look on my affliction: for the enemy has triumphed.

10 The adversary has laid his hand on all her treasures: for she has seen the heathen enter her sanctuary, those whom you had forbidden to enter your assembly.

11 All her people sigh, they search for bread; they have given their treasures for food to stay alive: look, O LORD, and consider; for I have become vile.

12 ¶ Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? look, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which is being dealt out to me, with which the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

13 From above he has sent fire into my bones, and it prevails against them: he spread a net for my feet, and made me turn back: he has made me hopeless and faint all day long.

14 His hand has fastened my transgressions to me like a yoke: they are bound upon my neck: he has made my strength fail, the Lord has delivered me into the hands of those I am unable to withstand.

15 Within me the Lord has trampled under foot all my mighty men: he has summoned an army against me to crush my young men: the Lord has trampled the virgin daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

16 I weep because of these things; my eye flows down with tears, because the one who can comfort and refresh me is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

17 Zion spreads forth her hands, and there is no one to comfort her: the LORD has ordered Jacob’s enemies to surround him: Jerusalem is like an unclean thing in their midst.

18 The LORD is righteous; it is I who have rebelled against his word: listen, I beg you, all you people, and see my sorrow: my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.

19 I called for my lovers, but they betrayed me: my priests and my elders gave up the ghost in the city, while searching for food to keep themselves alive.

20 See, O LORD; how troubled I am: I am churning within; my heart cannot rest; for I have grievously rebelled: outside the sword takes the children, at home there is famine.

21 They have heard how I moan: there is no one to comfort me: all of my enemies have heard of my trouble; and they are glad that you have done it: you will bring the day that you have foretold, and they will be as I am.

22 Let all their wickedness come before you; and deal with them, as you have dealt with me for all my sins: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.