Her uncleanness [was] in her skirts; she did not remember her future, she has descended beyond understanding, there is no comforter for her. See, O Yahweh, my persecution! [My] enemy has been made great!

The enemy has stretched out his hand over all her treasures; for she has seen the nations, they entered her sanctuary, those whom you commanded not to enter in your assembly.

All her people groan, they are searching for bread. They give their treasures for food, to bring back life. See, O Yahweh, and look, [how] I am despised.

From heaven he sent fire, into my bones he let it descend. He spread out a net for my feet; he turned me back, he gave me devastation, fainting all day.

For these [things], I am weeping, {my eyes flow with tears}; because a comforter is far from me, one to restore my life. My sons are desolate because [the] enemy has prevailed.

I have called to my lovers, they themselves deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city when they sought food for themselves to revive their life.

They hear that I was groaning; [there is] no comforter for me. All my enemies have heard my misery, they are pleased that you have done it. Bring [that] day that you have proclaimed, And let them be like me.

Let all their evil come before you; and deal with them just as you have dealt with me because of all my crimes; for my groaning is much and my heart [is] faint.

He has cut down {in fierce anger} all the might of Israel; he has withdrawn his right hand from the faces of [the] enemy, and he has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire, it has consumed all around.

He has bent his bow like an enemy; he has set his right hand like a foe, and he has slain all [the] treasures of [the] eye; in the tent of the daughter of Zion, he has poured out his anger like fire.

What can I say for you? What can I compare to you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you so that I can comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your destruction [is] as vast as the sea; who can heal you?

Your prophets had a vision for you, false and worthless; they have not exposed your sin, to restore your fortune; they have seen oracles for you, false and misleading.

They clap hands over you, all who pass along the way; they hiss and they shake their head, at the daughter of Jerusalem. Is this the city of which it is said, "A perfection of beauty, a joy for all the earth?"

They have opened their mouths against you, all your enemies. They hiss and gnash a tooth, and they say, "We have destroyed [her]! Surely this [is] the day we have hoped for; we have found [it], we have seen [it]!"

"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches; pour out your heart like water, before the face of the Lord. Lift to him your hands, for the life of your children, who faint in starvation, at the head of all streets."

You have summoned my horror from all around, as if for a feast day; no one on the day of Yahweh's anger [is] a fugitive and a survivor; whoever I have cared for and reared, my enemy has destroyed.

Though I cry out for help, he shuts out my prayers.

He has bent his bow and set me as the target for the arrow.

I have become a laughingstock for all the people, their mocking song all day long.

[It is] good to wait in silence for the salvation of Yahweh.

[It is] good for a man who carries the yoke of his childhood.

For the Lord will not reject forever.

For even though he causes grief he has compassion according to the greatness of his royal love.

Fear and a pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction.

You have heard my cry, "Do not shut your ear to my cry for help, for my relief!"

You came near on a day [when] I called you, you said, "Do not fear!"

O Lord, you have pleaded for {my cause}, you have redeemed my life.

The tongue of the nursling cleaves to its palate in thirst. Children beg [for] food, {no one lays it out before them}.

Happier were [the] victims of [the] sword than the victims of famine; they have pined away, very hungry for the crops of my field.

Yahweh has completed his anger, he has poured out {his fierce anger}; he has kindled a fire in Zion, it consumed her foundations.

Still our eyes failed, [looking for] our help in vain; in our watchtower, we kept watch for a nation that could not save.

Our pursuers were swifter than [the] eagles of [the] heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they have set an ambush for us in the desert.

{We pay for water with money}, our wood comes [to us] at a price.

We are driven on our necks; we are weary, there is no rest for us.

{We risk our life for food} because of the sword of the desert.

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

You, O Yahweh, will sit forever [on] your throne for generation to generation.

Why have you forgotten us forever? Why have you forsaken us {for so long}?