[1]How doth the city sit 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! [2]She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; she hath none to comfort her among all her lovers; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. [3]Judah is gone into exile because of affliction, and because of great servitude; she dwelleth among the nations, she findeth no rest; all her pursuers overtook her within the straits. [4]The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; all her gates are desolate, her priests sigh; her virgins a afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness. [5]Her adversaries are become the head, her enemies are at ease; for ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions; her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary. [6]And gone is from the daughter of Zion all her splendour; her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. [7]Jerusalem remembereth in the days of her affliction and of her anguish all her treasures that she had from the days of old; now that her people fall by the hand of the adversary, and none doth help her, the adversaries have seen her, they have mocked at her desolations. [8]Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore she is become as one unclean; all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness; she herself also sigheth, and turneth backward. [9]Her filthiness was in her skirts, she was not mindful of her end; therefore is she come down wonderfully, she hath no comforter. 'Behold, O ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, my affliction, for the enemy hath magnified himself.' [10]The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her treasures; for she hath seen that the heathen are entered into her sanctuary, concerning whom Thou didst command that they should not enter into Thy congregation. [11]All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul. 'See, O ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, and behold, how abject I am become.' [12]'Let it not come unto you, all ye that pass by! Behold, and see if there be any pain like unto my pain, which is done unto me, wherewith ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger. [13]From on high hath He sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, He hath turned me back; He hath made me desolate and faint all the day. [14]The yoke of my transgressions is impressed by His hand; they are knit together, they are come up upon my neck; He hath made my strength to fail; the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand. [15]The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me; He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men; the Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin the daughter of Judah.' [16]'For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water; because the comforter is far from me, even he that should refresh my soul; my children are desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed.' [17]Zion spreadeth forth her hands; there is none to comfort her; ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ hath comma concerning Jacob, that they that are round about him should be his adversaries; Jerusalem is among them as one unclean. [18]'‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎ is righteous; for I have rebelled against His word; hear, I pray you, all ye peoples, and behold my pain: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity. [19]I called for my lovers, but they deceived me; my priests and mine elders perished in the city, while they sought them food to refresh their souls. [20]Behold, O ‏𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇‎, for I am in distress, mine inwards burn; my heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled. Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is the like of death. [21]They have heard that I sigh, there is none to comfort me; all mine enemies have heard of my trouble, and are glad, for Thou hast done it; Thou wilt bring the day that Thou hast proclaimed, and they shall be like unto me. [22]Let all their wickedness come before Thee; and do unto them, as Thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions; for my sighs are many and my heart is faint.'
 
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