How deserted lies the city
Once so full of people!
How like a widow is she
She has now become a slave

Bitterly she weeps at night
Tears are on her cheeks
Among all her lovers
There is no one to comfort her

All her friends have betrayed her
They have become her enemies
All who pursue her have overtaken her
In the midst of her distress

All her gateways are desolate
She is in bitter anguish
Her foes have become her masters
Her enemies are at ease

The Lord has brought her grief
Because of her many sins
All who honored her despise her
She herself groans and turns away

Her fall was astounding, there was none to comfort her
“Look, Lord, on my affliction for the enemy has triumphed”
The enemy laid hands on all her treasures
“Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised”

“From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones
He spread a net for my feet and turned me back
He made me desolate, faint all the day long
My sins have been hung on my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength”

“The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst
He has summoned an army against me to crush my young men
This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears
No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit”

“My children are destitute
Because the enemy has prevailed”

“The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command
Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering
My young men and young women have gone into exile
I called to my allies but they betrayed me”

“See, Lord, how distressed I am!
I am in torment within”

“In my heart I am disturbed
for I have been most rebellious”

“People have heard my groaning
But there is no one to comfort me
All my enemies have heard of my distress
They rejoice at what you have done”

“May you bring the day you have announced
So they may become like me”

“Let all their wickedness come before you
Deal with them as you’ve dealt with me
Because of all my sins”

In his fierce anger the Lord has spurned both king and priest
The Lord has rejected his altar and abandoned his sanctuary

My eyes fail from weeping
I am in torment within
My heart is poured out on the ground
Because my people are destroyed

Because children and infants faint
In the streets of the city
They faint like the wounded
As their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms

What can I say for you?
With what can I compare you
To what can I liken you
That I may comfort you

The visions of your prophets
Were false and worthless
They did not expose
Your sin
To ward off
Your captivity
The prophecies they gave you
Were false and misleading

All who pass your way clap their hands at you
They scoff and shake their heads
All your enemies open their mouths wide against you
They scoff and gnash their teeth

The Lord has done what he planned
He has fulfilled his word
Which he decreed long ago

He has overthrown you without pity
He has let the enemy gloat over you

The hearts of the people
Cry out to the Lord
Let your tears flow like a river
Day and night

Give yourself no relief
Your eyes no rest
Arise, cry out in the night
As the watches of the night begin
Pour out your heart like water
In the presence of the Lord
Lift up your hands to him
For the lives of your children

“Look, Lord, and consider:
Whom have you ever treated like this?
Should priest and prophet be killed
In the sanctuary of the Lord?
Young and old lie together
In the dust of the streets

“In the day of the Lord’s anger
No one escaped or survived
Those I cared for and reared
My enemy has destroyed”

I am the man who has seen affliction
By the rod of the Lord’s wrath
He has driven me away and made me
Walk in darkness rather than light

He has made my skin
And my flesh grow old
And has broken
My bones

He has besieged me and surrounded me
With bitterness and hardship
He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead
He has walled me in so I cannot escape

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed

For his compassions never fail
They are new every morning

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion
Therefore I will wait for him”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord

Though he brings grief, he’ll show compassion
So great is his unfailing love
He does not willingly bring affliction
Or grief to anyone

Let’s examine our ways
Let’s return to the Lord
Let’s lift up our hearts and our hands
To God in heaven

You came near when I called you
And you said, “Do not fear”
You, Lord, took up my case
You redeemed my life

You, Lord, reign
Forever
Your throne endures
From generation to generation

Restore us to yourself, Lord
That we may return
Renew our days
As of old