Lamentations 2:10-19

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁰ The elders of Daughter Zion
sit on the ground in silence.
They have thrown dust on their heads^(A)
and put on sackcloth.
The young women of Jerusalem
have bowed their heads to the ground.^(B)

¹¹ My eyes are worn out from weeping;^(C)
I am churning within.
My heart is poured out in grief^[a](D)
because of the destruction of my dear people,^(E)
because infants and nursing babies faint
in the streets of the city.^(F)

¹² They cry out to their mothers,
“Where is the grain and wine?” ^(G)
as they faint like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
as their life pours out
in the arms of their mothers.

¹³ What can I say on your behalf?
What can I compare you to, Daughter Jerusalem?
What can I liken you to,
so that I may console you, Virgin Daughter Zion?
For your ruin is as vast as the sea.
Who can heal you?^(H)

¹⁴ Your prophets saw visions for you
that were empty and deceptive;^[b](I)
they did not reveal your iniquity
and so restore your fortunes.^(J)
They saw pronouncements for you
that were empty and misleading.

¹⁵ All who pass by
scornfully clap their hands^(K) at you.
They hiss^(L) and shake their heads^(M)
at Daughter Jerusalem:
Is this the city that was called
the perfection of beauty,^(N)
the joy of the whole earth?^(O)

¹⁶ All your enemies
open their mouths against you.^(P)
They hiss and gnash their teeth,^(Q)
saying, “We have swallowed her up.^(R)
This is the day we have waited for!
We have lived to see it.”

¹⁷ The Lord has done what he planned;
he has accomplished his decree,
which he ordained in days of old.
He has demolished without compassion,^(S)
letting the enemy gloat over you
and exalting the horn of your adversaries.

¹⁸ The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord.
Wall of Daughter Zion,^(T)
let your tears run down like a river
day and night.^(U)
Give yourself no relief
and your^[c] eyes no rest.

¹⁹ Arise, cry out in the night
from the first watch of the night.
Pour out your heart like water
before the Lord’s presence.^(V)
Lift up your hands to him
for the lives of your children
who are fainting from hunger
at the head of every street.^(W)