In fierce anger he has cut off all the horn of Israel. He has drawn back his right hand from before the enemy. And he has burned up Jacob like a flaming fire which devours round about.

He has bent his bow like an enemy. He has stood with his right hand as an adversary, and has slain all who were pleasant to the eye. He has poured out his wrath like fire in the tent of the daughter of Zion.

What shall I testify to thee? What shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea; who can heal thee?

Thy prophets have seen FALSE and foolish visions for thee. And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, but have seen for thee FALSE oracles and causes of banishment.

All thine enemies have opened their mouth wide against thee. They hiss and gnash the teeth. They say, We have swallowed her up. Certainly this is the day that we looked for. We have found, we have seen it.

Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches. Pour out thy heart like water before the face of LORD. Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young sons, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.

Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

And thou have removed my soul far off from peace. I forgot prosperity.

LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of LORD.

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

For LORD will not cast off forever.

For though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the sons of men.

Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Fear and the pit have come upon us, devastation and destruction.

My eye runs down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Thou drew near in the day that I called upon thee. Thou said, Fear not.

The tongue of the sucking child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young sons ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.

For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.

Those who are slain with the sword are better than those who are slain with hunger, for these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

LORD has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger, and he has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured the foundations thereof.

Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets. Our end is near, our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.

Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens. They chased us upon the mountains. They laid wait for us in the wilderness.

We have drunken our water for money. Our wood is sold to us.

The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us! For we have sinned.

For this our heart is faint. For these things our eyes are dim,

for the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. The foxes walk upon it.