(Vav) All of Daughter Zion's splendor has departed. Her leaders became like deer; they found no pasture, so they were too exhausted to escape from the hunter.

(Alef) Alas! The Lord has covered Daughter Zion with his anger. He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect his temple when he displayed his anger.

(Khet) The Lord was determined to tear down Daughter Zion's wall. He prepared to knock it down; he did not withdraw his hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament; together they mourned their ruin.

(Tet) Her city gates have fallen to the ground; he smashed to bits the bars that lock her gates. Her king and princes were taken into exile; there is no more guidance available. As for her prophets, they no longer receive a vision from the Lord.

(Kaf) My eyes are worn out from weeping; my stomach is in knots. My heart is poured out on the ground due to the destruction of my helpless people; children and infants faint in the town squares.

(Tsade) Cry out from your heart to the Lord, O wall of Daughter Zion! Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long! Do not rest; do not let your tears stop!

(Alef) I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath.

So I said, "My endurance has expired; I have lost all hope of deliverance from the Lord."

It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that everything comes -- both calamity and blessing?

Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.

(Ayin) Tears flow from my eyes and will not stop; there will be no break

until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what has happened.

(Qof) I have called on your name, O Lord, from the deepest pit.

Watch them from morning to evening; I am the object of their mocking songs.

Pursue them in anger and eradicate them from under the Lord's heaven.

(Tet) Those who died by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food.

(Ayin) Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help. From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.

Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their power.

Our skin is hot as an oven due to a fever from hunger.

The young men perform menial labor; boys stagger from their labor.

The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped playing their music.

The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.