The Deserted City

1How lonely sits the city

that once was full of people!

How like a widow she has become,

she that was great among the nations!

She that was a princess among the provinces

has become a vassal.

2She weeps bitterly in the night,

with tears on her cheeks;

among all her lovers

she has no one to comfort her;

all her friends have dealt treacherously with her,

they have become her enemies.

3Judah has gone into exile with suffering

and hard servitude;

she lives now among the nations,

and finds no resting-place;

her pursuers have all overtaken her

in the midst of her distress.

4The roads to Zion mourn,

for no one comes to the festivals;

all her gates are desolate,

her priests groan;

her young girls grieve,1.4 Meaning of Heb uncertain

and her lot is bitter.

5Her foes have become the masters,

her enemies prosper,

because the LORD has made her suffer

for the multitude of her transgressions;

her children have gone away,

captives before the foe.

6From daughter Zion has departed

all her majesty.

Her princes have become like stags

that find no pasture;

they fled without strength

before the pursuer.

7Jerusalem remembers,

in the days of her affliction and wandering,

all the precious things

that were hers in days of old.

When her people fell into the hand of the foe,

and there was no one to help her,

the foe looked on mocking

over her downfall.

8Jerusalem sinned grievously,

so she has become a mockery;

all who honoured her despise her,

for they have seen her nakedness;

she herself groans,

and turns her face away.

9Her uncleanness was in her skirts;

she took no thought of her future;

her downfall was appalling,

with none to comfort her.

‘O LORD, look at my affliction,

for the enemy has triumphed!’

10Enemies have stretched out their hands

over all her precious things;

she has even seen the nations

invade her sanctuary,

those whom you forbade

to enter your congregation.

11All her people groan

as they search for bread;

they trade their treasures for food

to revive their strength.

Look, O LORD, and see

how worthless I have become.

12Is it nothing to you,1.12 Meaning of Heb uncertain all you who pass by?

Look and see

if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

which was brought upon me,

which the LORD inflicted

on the day of his fierce anger.

13From on high he sent fire;

it went deep into my bones;

he spread a net for my feet;

he turned me back;

he has left me stunned,

faint all day long.

14My transgressions were bound1.14 Meaning of Heb uncertain into a yoke;

by his hand they were fastened together;

they weigh on my neck,

sapping my strength;

the Lord handed me over

to those whom I cannot withstand.

15The LORD has rejected

all my warriors in the midst of me;

he proclaimed a time against me

to crush my young men;

the Lord has trodden as in a wine press

the virgin daughter Judah.

16For these things I weep;

my eyes flow with tears;

for a comforter is far from me,

one to revive my courage;

my children are desolate,

for the enemy has prevailed.

17Zion stretches out her hands,

but there is no one to comfort her;

the LORD has commanded against Jacob

that his neighbours should become his foes;

Jerusalem has become

a filthy thing among them.

18The LORD is in the right,

for I have rebelled against his word;

but hear, all you peoples,

and behold my suffering;

my young women and young men

have gone into captivity.

19I called to my lovers

but they deceived me;

my priests and elders

perished in the city

while seeking food

to revive their strength.

20See, O LORD, how distressed I am;

my stomach churns,

my heart is wrung within me,

because I have been very rebellious.

In the street the sword bereaves;

in the house it is like death.

21They heard how I was groaning,

with no one to comfort me.

All my enemies heard of my trouble;

they are glad that you have done it.

Bring on the day you have announced,

and let them be as I am.

22Let all their evildoing come before you;

and deal with them

as you have dealt with me

because of all my transgressions;

for my groans are many

and my heart is faint.