Chapter 1

How doth the city sit¹ 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!

She weepeth⁴ sore² in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks: among all her lovers⁶ she hath none to comfort¹⁸ [her]: all her friends have dealt treacherously¹ with her, they are become her enemies.⁶

Judah is gone into captivity¹ because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth¹ among the heathen, she findeth¹ no rest: all her persecutors⁶ overtook⁵² her between the straits.

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come⁶ to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate:⁶ her priests sigh,¹² her virgins are afflicted,¹² and she [is] in bitterness.¹

Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies⁶ prosper;¹ for the LORD hath afflicted⁵² her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone¹ into captivity before the enemy.

And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed:⁴ her princes are become like harts [that] find¹ no pasture, and they are gone⁴ without strength before the pursuer.⁶

Jerusalem remembered¹ 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 fell² into the hand of the enemy, and none did help⁶ her: the adversaries saw¹ her, [and] did mock¹ at her sabbaths.

Jerusalem hath grievously sinned;¹ therefore she is removed: all that honoured¹⁸ her despise⁵² her, because they have seen¹ her nakedness: yea, she sigheth,⁸ and turneth⁴ backward.

Her filthiness [is] in her skirts; she remembereth¹ not her last end; therefore she came down⁴ wonderfully: she had no comforter.¹⁸ O LORD, behold³ my affliction: for the enemy⁶ hath magnified⁵² [himself].

The adversary hath spread¹ out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen¹ [that] the heathen entered¹ into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command¹⁴ [that] they should not enter⁴ into thy congregation.

All her people sigh,¹² they seek¹⁸ bread; they have given¹ their pleasant things ⁴²⁶² for meat to relieve⁵³ the soul: see,³ O LORD, and consider;⁵⁴ for I am become vile.⁶

[Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by?^{6 1870} behold,⁵⁴ and see³ if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done¹⁹ unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted⁵² [me] in the day of his fierce anger.

From above hath he sent¹ fire into my bones, and it prevaileth⁴ against them: he hath spread¹ a net for my feet, he hath turned⁵² me back: he hath made¹ me desolate⁶ [and] faint all the day.

The yoke of my transgressions is bound⁸ by his hand: they are wreathed,¹⁰¹ [and] come up¹ upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall,⁵² the Lord hath delivered¹ me into [their] hands, [from whom] I am not able⁴ to rise up.²

The Lord hath trodden under foot¹⁴ all my mighty [men] in the midst of me: he hath called¹ an assembly against me to crush² my young men: the Lord hath trodden¹ the virgin, the daughter of Judah, [as] in a winepress.

For these [things] I weep;⁶ mine eye, mine eye runneth down⁶ with water, because the comforter¹⁸ that should relieve⁵⁶ my soul is far¹ from me: my children are desolate,⁶ because the enemy⁶ prevailed.¹

Zion spreadeth forth¹⁴ her hands, [and there is] none to comfort¹⁸ her: the LORD hath commanded¹⁴ concerning Jacob, [that] his adversaries [should be] round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled¹ against his commandment: hear,³ I pray you, all people, and behold³ my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone¹ into captivity.

I called¹ for my lovers,¹⁸ [but] they deceived¹⁴ me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost¹ in the city, while they sought¹⁴ their meat to relieve⁵⁵ their souls.

Behold,³ O LORD; for I [am] in distress:¹ my bowels are troubled;³⁹ mine heart is turned⁸ within me; for I have grievously² rebelled:¹ abroad the sword bereaveth,¹⁴ at home [there is] as death.

They have heard¹ that I sigh:¹² [there is] none to comfort¹⁸ me: all mine enemies⁶ have heard¹ of my trouble; they are glad¹ that thou hast done¹ [it]: thou wilt bring⁵² the day [that] thou hast called,¹ and they shall be like unto me.

Let all their wickedness come⁴ before thee; and do²⁴ unto them, as thou hast done²² unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs [are] many, and my heart [is] faint.