The Desolate City
1 Aleph How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people! The great one among the nations is become as a widow; the princess of provinces is become tributary.
1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
1 How (A)lonely sits the cityThat was (B)full of people!She has become like a (C)widowWho was once (D)great among the nations!She who was a princess among the (a)provincesHas become a (E)forced laborer!
1 How(a) she sits alone,(A)the city(B) once crowded with people!She who was great among the nationshas become like a widow.(C)The princess among the provinceshas been put to forced labor.
1 How lonely she lies, the city that thronged with people! Like a widow she has become, this great one among nations! The princess among provinces has become a vassal.
2 Beth She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies.
2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
2 She (F)weeps bitterly in the nightAnd her tears are on her cheeks;She has none to comfort herAmong all her (G)lovers.All her friends have (H)dealt treacherously with her;They have become her enemies.
2 ב BetShe weeps aloud during the night,(D)with tears on her cheeks.There is no one to offer her comfort,not one from all her lovers.(b)(E)All her friends have betrayed her;they have become her enemies.
2 Bitterly she cries in the night, as tears stream down her cheeks. No one consoles her of all her friends. All her neighbors have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.
3 Gimel Judah is gone into captivity because of the affliction and because of the greatness of the servitude; she dwells among the Gentiles; she finds no rest; all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
3 (I)Judah has gone into exile (b)under afflictionAnd (c)under (d)harsh servitude;She dwells (J)among the nations,But she has found no rest;All (K)her pursuers have overtaken herIn the midst of (e)distress.
3 ג GimelJudah has gone into exilefollowing(c) affliction and harsh slavery;she lives among the nationsbut finds no place to rest.(F)All her pursuers have overtaken herin narrow places.
3 Judah has gone into exile to escape affliction and servitude. She that sat among the nations, has found no rest. All her pursuers overtook her amid narrow passes.
4 Daleth The streets of Zion mourn because there are none to come to the solemnities; all her gates are destroyed; her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
4 The roads (f)of Zion are in mourningBecause (L)no one comes to the appointed feasts.All her gates are (M)desolate;Her priests are groaning,Her (N)virgins are afflicted,And she herself (g)is (O)bitter.
4 ד DaletThe roads to Zion(G) mourn,for no one comes to the appointed festivals.(H)All her gates are deserted;her priests groan,her young women grieve,and she herself is bitter.
4 The roads that lead to Zion are in mourning, because no one travels to the festivals. All her gates are desolate; her priests are moaning. Her young women are grieving, and she is bitter.
5 He Her enemies have been made the head; those who hated her have been prospered; for the LORD has afflicted her for the multitude of her rebellions; her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
5 Her adversaries have become (h)her masters,Her enemies (i)prosper;For the Lord has (P)caused her griefBecause of the multitude of her transgressions;Her little ones have gone awayAs captives before the adversary.
5 ה HeHer adversaries have become her masters;(I)her enemies are at ease,(J)for the Lord has made her sufferbecause of her many transgressions.Her children have gone awayas captives before the adversary.
5 Her adversaries dominate her, her enemies prosper. For the LORD has made her suffer because of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away, taken into captivity in the presence of the enemy.
6 Vau And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed; her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
6 All her (Q)majestyHas departed from the daughter of Zion;Her princes have become like deerThat have found no pasture;And they have (j)(R)fled without strengthBefore the pursuer.
6 ו VavAll her splendor(K) has vanishedfrom Daughter Zion.(L)Her leaders are like stagsthat find no pasture;they walk away exhaustedbefore the hunter.(M)
6 Fled from cherished Zion are all that were her splendor. Her princes have become like deer that cannot find their feeding grounds. They flee with strength exhausted from their pursuers.
7 Zain Jerusalem remembered the days of her affliction and of her rebellions and of all her desirable things that she had in the times of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and no one helped her; the enemies saw her and mocked at her days of rest.
7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
7 In the days of her affliction and homelessness(S)Jerusalem remembers all her precious thingsThat were from the days of old,When her people fell into the hand of the adversaryAnd (T)no one helped her.The adversaries saw her,They (U)mocked at her (k)ruin.
7 ז ZayinDuring the days of her affliction and homelessness(N)Jerusalem remembers all her precious belongingsthat were hers in days of old.When her people fell into the adversary’s hand,she had no one to help.The adversaries looked at her,laughing over her downfall.
7 Jerusalem remembers her time of affliction and misery; all her valued belongings of days gone by, when her people fell into enemy hands, with no one to help her, and her enemies stared at her, mocking her downfall.
8 Cheth Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is removed; all that honoured her despise her because they have seen her nakedness; yea, she sighs and is turned backward.
8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
8 Jerusalem sinned (V)greatly,Therefore (W)she has become an unclean thing.All who honored her despise herBecause they have seen her nakedness;Even (X)she herself groans and turns away.
8 ח KhetJerusalem has sinned grievously;therefore, she has become an object of scorn.(d)All who honored her now despise her,for they have seen her nakedness.She herself groans and turns away.
8 Jerusalem sinned greatly, and she became unclean. All who honored her now despise her, because they saw her naked. She herself groans and turns her face away.
9 Teth Her filthiness is in her skirts; she did not remember her latter end; therefore she came down surprisingly; she has no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction, for the enemy has magnified himself.
9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
9 Her (Y)uncleanness was in her skirts;She (l)did not consider her (Z)future.Therefore she has (m)(AA)fallen astonishingly;(AB)She has no comforter.“(AC)See, O Lord, my affliction,For the enemy has (AD)magnified himself!”
9 ט TetHer uncleanness stains her skirts.(O)She never considered her end.Her downfall was astonishing;(P)there was no one to comfort her.Lord, look on my affliction,for the enemy triumphs!
9 Uncleanness has soiled her skirts, and she gave no thought to what would follow. She fell in such a startling way, with no one to comfort her. Look, LORD, upon my affliction, because my enemy is boasting.
10 Jod The enemy has spread out his hand upon all her precious things, and she saw the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
10 The adversary has stretched out his handOver all her precious things,For she has seen the (AE)nations enter her sanctuary,The ones whom You commandedThat they should (AF)not enter into Your congregation.
10 י YodThe adversary has seizedall her precious belongings.She has even seen the nationsenter her sanctuary—those You had forbiddento enter Your assembly.(Q)
10 The adversary seized in his hands everything she valued. She watched the nations enter her sanctuary; those you forbade to enter your place of meeting.
11 Caph All her people sought their bread with sadness; they have given all their precious things for food to maintain life; see, O LORD, and consider, for I am become vile.
11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.
11 All her people groan (AG)seeking bread;They have given their precious things for foodTo (AH)restore their (n)lives themselves.“See, O Lord, and look,For I am (AI)despised.”
11 כ KafAll her people groanwhile they search for bread.(R)They have traded their precious belongings for foodin order to stay alive.(S)Lord, look and seehow I have become despised.
11 All her people groaned as they searched for food. They traded their valuables in order to eat, to keep themselves alive. Look, LORD, and see how I have become dishonored.
Zion Speaks Out: No One Offers Comfort
12 Lamed Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there is any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is come unto me because the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there 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.
12 “Is (AJ)it nothing to all you who pass this way?Look and see if there is any (o)pain like my (p)painWhich was severely dealt out to me,Which the (AK)Lord inflicted on the day of His (AL)fierce anger.
12 ל LamedIs this nothing to you, all you who pass by?(T)Look and see!Is there any pain like mine,which was dealt out to me,which the Lord made me sufferon the day of His burning anger?(U)
12 May it not befall you, all who pass along the road! Look and see: Is there any grief like my grief dealt out to me, by which the LORD afflicted me in the time of his fierce wrath?
13 Mem From upon high he has sent fire into my bones, and it prevails against them; he has spread a net for my feet; he has turned me back; he has made me desolate and always with pain.
13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
13 “From on high He sent fire into my (AM)bones,And it (q)prevailed over them.He has spread a (AN)net for my feet;He has turned me back;He has made me (AO)desolate,(r)Faint all day long.
13 מ MemHe sent fire from heaven(V) into my bones;He made it descend.(e)(W)He spread a net for my feet(X)and turned me back.He made me desolate,sick all day long.
13 He sent fire from on high, making it penetrate my bones. He stretched out a net at my feet, forcing me to turn back. He made me desolate; I'm fainting all day long.
14 Nun The yoke of my rebellions is bound in his hand; they are wreathed and come up upon my neck; he has made my strength to fall; the Lord has delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
14 “The (AP)yoke of my transgressions is bound;By His hand they are knit together.They have (AQ)come upon my neck;He has made my strength (s)fail.The Lord (AR)has given me into the handsOf those against whom I am not able to stand.
14 נ NunMy transgressions have been formed into a yoke,(f)(g)(Y)fastened together by His hand;they have been placed on my neck,and the Lord has broken my strength.He has handed me overto those I cannot withstand.
14 The yoke of my sins was bound on, fastened together by his hand. They settled on my neck; he caused my strength to fail. The LORD placed me in the power of those I cannot resist.
15 Samech The Lord has trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me; he has called a company against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden the virgin daughter of Judah as in a winepress.
15 The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
15 “The (AS)Lord has rejected all my strong menIn my midst;He has called an appointed (t)time against meTo crush my (AT)young men;The Lord has (AU)trodden as in a wine pressThe virgin daughter of Judah.
15 ס SamekThe Lord has rejected(Z)all the mighty men within me.He has summoned an army(h) against meto crush my young warriors.The Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah(AA)like grapes in a winepress.(AB)
15 He rejected all the valiant men the LORD, in my midst. He set a time to meet with me to crush my young warriors. The LORD has trampled, as in a winepress, the fair virgin that is Judah.
16 Ain For these things I weep; my eyes, my eyes stream with water because the comforter that gives rest unto my soul has left me; my sons are desolate because the enemy prevailed.
16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
16 “For these things I (AV)weep;(u)My eyes run down with water;Because far from me is a (AW)comforter,One who restores my soul.My children are desolateBecause the enemy has prevailed.”
16 ע AyinI weep because of these things;my eyes flow(i) with tears.(AC)For there is no one nearby to comfort me,(AD)no one to keep me alive.My children are desolatebecause the enemy has prevailed.
16 Because of all this, I weep; my eyes stream with tears because far from me is the comforter of my soul. My children are sorrowful, because the enemy has won.
17 Pe Zion spread forth her hands and has no comforter; the LORD gave a commandment against Jacob that his enemies should besiege him; Jerusalem was an abomination in the midst of them.
17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
17 Zion (AX)stretches out her hands;There is no one to comfort her;The Lord has (AY)commanded concerning JacobThat the ones round about him should be his adversaries;(AZ)Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.
17 פ PeZion stretches out her hands;there is no one to comfort her.The Lord has issued a decree against Jacobthat his neighbors should be his adversaries.Jerusalem has becomesomething impure(AE) among them.
17 Zion spreads out her hands; no one is there to comfort her. The LORD has issued an order against Jacob, that all who are around him are to be his enemies; Jerusalem has become unclean among them.
18 Tzaddi The LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against his mouth; hear now, all the peoples and see my sorrow; my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
18 The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
18 “The Lord is (BA)righteous;For I have (BB)rebelled against His (v)command;Hear now, all peoples,And (BC)behold my (w)pain;(BD)My virgins and my young menHave gone into captivity.
18 צ TsadeThe Lord is just,for I have rebelled against His command.(AF)Listen, all you people;look at my pain.My young men and womenhave gone into captivity.(AG)
18 The LORD is in the right, but I rebelled against his commands. Listen, please, all you people, and look at my pain my young men and women have gone into captivity.
19 Koph I called unto my lovers, but they have deceived me; my priests and my elders in the city perished seeking food to maintain their lives.
19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.
19 “I (BE)called to my lovers, but they deceived me;My (BF)priests and my elders perished in the cityWhile they sought food to (BG)restore (x)their strength themselves.
19 ק QofI called to my lovers,(AH)but they betrayed me.My priests and eldersperished in the citywhile searching for foodto keep themselves alive.(AI)
19 I called out to my lovers, but they deceived me. My priests and my elders have died within the city while looking for something to eat to keep themselves alive.
20 Resh Look, O LORD; for I am in distress; my bowels are troubled; my heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled; abroad the sword bereaves; at home there is as death.
20 Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
20 “See, O Lord, for I am in distress;My (y)(BH)spirit is greatly troubled;My heart is overturned within me,For I have been very (BI)rebellious.In the street the sword (z)slays;In the house it is like death.
20 ר ReshLord, see how I am in distress.I am churning within;(AJ)my heart is broken,(j)for I have been very rebellious.Outside, the sword takes the children;inside, there is death.(AK)
20 Look, LORD, how distressed I am; all my insides are churning. My heart is troubled within me, because I vigorously rebelled. Outside the sword brings loss of life, while at home death rules.
21 Schin They have heard that I sigh; and there is no comforter for me; all my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it. Thou hast brought the day that thou hast spoken of, but they shall be like unto me.
21 They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
21 “They have heard that I (BJ)groan;There is no one to comfort me;All my enemies have heard of my (aa)calamity;They are (BK)glad that You have done it.Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed,That they may become (BL)like me.
21 שׁ ShinPeople have heard me groaning,(AL)but there is no one to comfort me.All my enemies have heard of my misfortune;they are glad that You have caused it.(AM)Bring on the day You have announced,so that they may become like me.(AN)
21 People heard how I groan, with no one to comfort me. All my adversaries have heard about my troubles; they rejoice that you have caused them. Bring on the day you have promised, so my adversaries will become like me.
22 Tau Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them as thou hast done unto me for all my rebellions; for my sighs are many, and my heart is filled with pain.
22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
22 “Let all their wickedness come before You;And (BM)deal with them as You have dealt with meFor all my transgressions;For my groans are many and my heart is faint.”
22 ת TavLet all their wickedness come before You,and deal with themas You have dealt with mebecause of all my transgressions.(AO)For my groans are many,and I am sick at heart.
22 May all of their wickedness come to your attention, and deal with them as you have done with me because of all my transgressions. For I am constantly groaning, and my heart is faint.