¶ How doth¹ the city sit² solitary, that was full³ of people! how is she become as a⁴ widow! she that was great⁵ among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is⁶ she become tributary!

She weepeth⁷ sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among⁸ all her lovers she hath none⁹ to comfort her: all her friends¹⁰ have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

Judah is gone¹¹ into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude¹²: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all¹³ her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

The ways¹⁴ of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates¹⁵ are desolate: her priests¹⁶ sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

Her adversaries¹⁷ are the chief, her enemies prosper; for¹⁸ the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children¹⁹ are gone into captivity before the enemy.

And from²⁰ the daughter of Zion all²¹ her beauty is departed: her princes²² are become like harts²³ that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

Jerusalem remembered²⁴ in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her²⁵ pleasant²⁶ things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries²⁷ saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

Jerusalem hath²⁸ grievously sinned; therefore she is removed²⁹: all³⁰ that honoured her despise her, because they³¹ have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth³², and turneth backward.

Her filthiness³³ is in her skirts; she remembereth³⁴ not her last end; therefore she came³⁵ down wonderfully: she had³⁶ no comforter. O LORD, behold³⁷ my affliction: for³⁸ the enemy hath magnified himself.

¶ The adversary hath spread³⁹ out his hand upon all her pleasant⁴⁰ things: for she hath seen⁴¹ that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom⁴² thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

All her people sigh, they seek⁴³ bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul⁴⁴: see⁴⁵, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

¶ Is it nothing⁴⁶ to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

From above⁴⁷ hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread⁴⁸ a net for my feet, he hath turned⁴⁹ me back: he hath made me desolate⁵⁰ and faint all the day.

The yoke⁵¹ of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered⁵² me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

The Lord hath trodden⁵³ under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush⁵⁴ my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin⁵⁵, the daughter of Judah, as in⁵⁶ a winepress.

For these things I weep⁵⁷; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve⁵⁸ my soul is far from me: my children⁵⁹ are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

Zion spreadeth⁶⁰ forth her hands, and there is none⁶¹ to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded⁶² concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem⁶³ is as a menstruous woman among them.

The LORD⁶⁴ is righteous; for I⁶⁵ have rebelled against his commandment⁶⁶: hear⁶⁷, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins⁶⁸ and my young men are gone into captivity.

I called for⁶⁹ my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests⁷⁰ and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

¶ Behold⁷¹, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels⁷² are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for⁷³ I have grievously rebelled: abroad⁷⁴ the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.

They have heard that⁷⁵ I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are⁷⁶ glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt⁷⁷ bring the day⁷⁸ that thou hast called⁷⁹, and they shall be like unto me.

Let all their⁸⁰ 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 heart⁸¹ is faint.