\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Lamentations}
{\MT Lamentations

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Jerusalem Cries Over Her Destruction
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Jerusalem once was a city full of people,
\par }{\QB but now the city is so empty.
\par }{\Q She\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:1 }
{\FK{She
}}{\FT{Throughout this poem, Jerusalem is represented as a woman.}}} was one of the greatest cities in the world,
\par }{\QB but now she is like a poor widow.
\par }{\Q She was once a princess among cities,
\par }{\QB but now she has been made a slave.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}She cries bitterly in the night.
\par }{\QB Her tears are on her cheeks.
\par }{\QB She has no one to comfort her.
\par }{\Q Many nations were friendly to her,
\par }{\QB but not one of them comforts her now.
\par }{\Q All her friends have turned their backs on her
\par }{\QB and have become her enemies.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Judah suffered very much,
\par }{\QB and then she was taken into captivity.
\par }{\Q She lives among other nations
\par }{\QB but has found no rest.
\par }{\Q The people who chased her caught her
\par }{\QB where there was no way out.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:3 }
{\FK{where … way out
}}{\FT{Or “in the narrow valleys.”}}}
\par }{\Q \VS{4}The roads to Zion are very sad,
\par }{\QB because no one comes to Zion for the festivals anymore.
\par }{\Q All of Zion’s gates have been destroyed;
\par }{\QB all her priests groan in sorrow.
\par }{\Q Zion’s young women have been taken away,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:4 }
{\FK{have been taken away
}}{\FT{This is from the ancient Greek version. The standard Hebrew text has “are upset.”}}}
\par }{\QB and all this made Zion sad.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Jerusalem’s enemies have won.
\par }{\QB Her enemies have been successful.
\par }{\Q This happened because the LORD punished her.
\par }{\QB He punished Jerusalem for her many sins.
\par }{\Q Her children have gone away.
\par }{\QB Their enemies captured them and took them away.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The beauty of Daughter Zion\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:6 }
{\FK{Daughter Zion
}}{\FT{Another name for Jerusalem. Also in 2:1, 8, 13, 18.}}} has gone away.
\par }{\QB Her princes were like deer that cannot find a meadow to feed in.
\par }{\QB They walk away without strength from those who chased them.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Jerusalem thinks back.
\par }{\Q She remembers the time when she was hurt
\par }{\QB and when she lost her home.
\par }{\Q She remembers all the nice things that she had in the past.
\par }{\QB She remembers those nice things that she had in the old days.
\par }{\Q She remembers when her people were captured by the enemy.
\par }{\QB She remembers when there was no one to help her.
\par }{\Q When her enemies saw her, they laughed,
\par }{\QB because she was destroyed.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Jerusalem sinned very badly.
\par }{\QB Because Jerusalem sinned,
\par }{\QB she became a ruined city that people shake their heads about.
\par }{\Q In the past people respected her.
\par }{\QB But now they hate her,
\par }{\QB because they abused her.
\par }{\Q Jerusalem groaned
\par }{\QB and turned away.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Jerusalem’s skirts were dirty.
\par }{\QB She gave no thought to what would become of her.
\par }{\Q Her fall was amazing.
\par }{\QB She had no one to comfort her.
\par }{\Q She says, “LORD, see how I am hurt!
\par }{\QB See how my enemy thinks he is so great!”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}The enemy stretched out his hand.
\par }{\QB He took all her nice things.
\par }{\Q In fact, she saw the foreign nations go inside her Temple.
\par }{\QB And you said those people could not join in our assembly!
\par }{\Q \VS{11}All the people of Jerusalem are groaning.
\par }{\QB All of her people are looking for food.
\par }{\QB They are giving away all their nice things for food to stay alive.
\par }{\Q Jerusalem says, “Look, LORD. Look at me!
\par }{\QB See how people hate me.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}All you who pass by on the road, you don’t seem to care.
\par }{\QB But look at me and see.
\par }{\Q Is there any pain like my pain?
\par }{\QB Is there any pain like the pain that has come to me?
\par }{\Q Is there any pain like the pain that the LORD has punished me with?
\par }{\QB He has punished me on the day of his great anger.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}The Lord sent fire from above
\par }{\QB that went down into my bones.
\par }{\Q He stretched out a net for my feet.
\par }{\QB He turned me all the way around.
\par }{\Q He made me into a wasteland.
\par }{\QB I am sick all day.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}“My sins were tied up like a yoke.
\par }{\QB My sins were tied up in the Lord’s hands.
\par }{\Q His yoke is on my neck.
\par }{\QB He has made me weak.
\par }{\Q He has given me to those
\par }{\QB who I cannot stand up against.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}“The Lord rejected all my powerful men
\par }{\QB who were inside the city.
\par }{\Q Then he brought a group of people against me.
\par }{\QB He brought them to kill my young soldiers.
\par }{\Q The Lord has trampled his dearest city\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:15 }
{\FK{dearest city
}}{\FT{Literally, “virgin daughter Judah,” a name for the city of Jerusalem.}}}
\par }{\QB like grapes in a winepress.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}“I cry about all these things.
\par }{\QB Tears are flowing down my cheeks.
\par }{\Q There is no one near to comfort me.
\par }{\QB There is no one who can make me feel better.
\par }{\Q My children are like a wasteland,
\par }{\QB because the enemy won.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}Zion spread out her hands.
\par }{\QB There was no one to comfort her.
\par }{\Q The LORD had given orders to Jacob’s enemies.
\par }{\QB He ordered them to surround the city.
\par }{\Q Jerusalem has become a dirty rag
\par }{\QB that her enemies threw away.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}Now Jerusalem says, “I refused to listen to the LORD,
\par }{\QB so he is right for doing these things.
\par }{\Q So listen, all you people!
\par }{\QB Look at my pain!
\par }{\Q My young women and men
\par }{\QB have gone into captivity.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}I called out to my lovers,
\par }{\QB but they tricked me.
\par }{\Q My priests and my elders
\par }{\QB have died in the city.
\par }{\Q They were looking for food for themselves.
\par }{\QB They wanted to keep themselves alive.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}“Look at me, LORD. I am in distress!
\par }{\QB I am upset, as if my heart turned upside down inside of me.
\par }{\Q I feel this way because
\par }{\QB I have been so stubborn.
\par }{\Q Out in the streets,
\par }{\QB I lost my children to the swords.
\par }{\Q Inside, it is like death.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}“Listen to me, I am groaning.
\par }{\QB I have no one to comfort me.
\par }{\Q All my enemies have heard of my trouble.
\par }{\QB They are happy that you did this to me.
\par }{\Q You said there would be a time of punishment.
\par }{\QB You said you would punish my enemies.
\par }{\Q Now do what you said.
\par }{\QB Let my enemies be like I am now.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{22}“Look how evil my enemies are!
\par }{\QB Then you can treat them the same way you treated me
\par }{\QB because of all my sins.
\par }{\Q Do this because I am groaning again and again.
\par }{\QB Do this because my heart is sick.”
\par }{\BB \par }
\Chap{2}{\SH The Lord Destroyed Jerusalem
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Look how the Lord has covered daughter Zion\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:1 }
{\FK{daughter Zion
}}{\FT{The city of Jerusalem pictured as a young woman. Similar language is used in verses 8, 13, 15, and 18. See “Zion” in the Word List.}}}
\par }{\QB with the cloud of his anger.
\par }{\Q He has thrown her, the glory of Israel,
\par }{\QB from the sky to the ground.
\par }{\Q In his anger he showed no care even for the Temple
\par }{\QB where he rests his feet.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:1 }
{\FK{Temple … feet
}}{\FT{Literally, “the footstool of his feet,” meaning the place God lived among his people.}}}
\par }{\Q \VS{2}The Lord destroyed the houses of Jacob.
\par }{\QB He destroyed them without mercy.
\par }{\Q In his anger he destroyed the fortresses of Daughter Judah.
\par }{\QB He threw the kingdom of Judah and its rulers to the ground.
\par }{\QB He ruined the kingdom of Judah.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}He was angry, and he destroyed
\par }{\QB all the strength of Israel.
\par }{\Q He took away his right hand from Israel.
\par }{\QB He did this when the enemy came.
\par }{\Q He burned like a flaming fire in Jacob.
\par }{\QB He was like a fire that burns all around.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}He bent his bow like an enemy.
\par }{\QB He held his sword in his right hand.
\par }{\Q He killed all the good-looking men of Judah.
\par }{\QB He killed them as if they were the enemy.
\par }{\Q He poured out his anger
\par }{\QB like a fire on the tents of Zion.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}The Lord has become like an enemy.
\par }{\QB He has swallowed up Israel.
\par }{\Q He has swallowed up all her palaces
\par }{\QB and all her fortresses.
\par }{\Q He has made much sadness and crying
\par }{\QB for the dead in Daughter Judah.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}He pulled up his own tent\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:6 }
{\FK{his own tent
}}{\FT{This is a reference to the Temple in Jerusalem.}}}
\par }{\QB as if it were a garden.
\par }{\Q He has ruined the place where the people
\par }{\QB came together to worship him.
\par }{\Q The LORD has made people forget
\par }{\QB the special assemblies and special days of rest\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:6 }
{\FK{special days of rest
}}{\FT{Or “Sabbaths.” This might mean Saturday (see “Sabbath” in the Word List) or all the special days when the people were not supposed to work.}}} in Zion.
\par }{\Q He rejected the king and the priests.
\par }{\QB He was angry and rejected them.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}He rejected his altar,
\par }{\QB and he left his holy place of worship.
\par }{\Q He let the enemy pull down the walls
\par }{\QB of the palaces of Jerusalem.
\par }{\Q The enemy shouted with joy in the LORD’S Temple.
\par }{\QB They made noise as though it were a festival.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}The LORD planned to destroy
\par }{\QB the wall of Daughter Zion.
\par }{\Q He marked the wall with a measuring line.
\par }{\QB He didn’t stop himself from destroying it.
\par }{\Q He made all the walls cry out in sadness.
\par }{\QB Together they wasted away.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Jerusalem’s gates have sunk into the ground.
\par }{\QB The bars on her gates are completely destroyed.
\par }{\Q Her king and princes have been taken to other nations.
\par }{\QB The teaching of the law has stopped.
\par }{\Q And her prophets no longer receive
\par }{\QB visions from the LORD.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}The elders of Zion sit on the ground.
\par }{\QB They sit on the ground and are quiet.
\par }{\Q They pour dust on their heads.
\par }{\QB They put on sackcloth.
\par }{\Q The young women of Jerusalem
\par }{\QB bow their heads to the ground in sorrow.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}My eyes are worn out with tears,
\par }{\QB and my insides are upset.
\par }{\Q My heart feels like it has been poured on the ground;
\par }{\QB I feel this way because of the destruction of my people.
\par }{\Q Children and babies are fainting
\par }{\QB in the public squares of the city.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}They ask their mothers,
\par }{\QB “Where is the bread and wine?”
\par }{\QB as they pour out their life in their mother’s laps.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}My dear Jerusalem, what can I say about you?
\par }{\QB What can I compare you to?
\par }{\Q What can I say you are like?
\par }{\QB How can I comfort you, city of Zion?
\par }{\Q You have been hurt much too badly
\par }{\QB for anyone to heal.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Your prophets saw visions for you,
\par }{\QB but their visions were only worthless lies.
\par }{\Q They didn’t speak against your sins.
\par }{\QB They didn’t try to make things better.
\par }{\Q They spoke messages for you,
\par }{\QB but they were false messages that fooled you.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Those who pass by on the road
\par }{\QB clap their hands and laugh at you.
\par }{\Q They make fun of Jerusalem,
\par }{\QB shaking their heads at the sight of her.
\par }{\Q They ask, “Is this the city that people called
\par }{\QB ‘The Most Beautiful City’
\par }{\QB and ‘The Joy of all the Earth’?”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}All your enemies laugh at you.
\par }{\QB They whistle and grind their teeth at you.
\par }{\Q They say, “We have swallowed them up!
\par }{\QB This is the day we were hoping for.
\par }{\QB We have finally seen this happen!”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}The LORD did what he planned to do.
\par }{\QB He did what he said he would do.
\par }{\QB He did what he commanded a long time ago.
\par }{\Q He destroyed, and he had no pity.
\par }{\QB He made your enemies happy because of what happened to you.
\par }{\QB He made your enemies strong.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}Cry out with all your heart\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:18 }
{\FK{Cry out … heart
}}{\FT{Or “Their hearts cried out.”}}} to the Lord!
\par }{\QB Jerusalem, let tears roll down your walls.
\par }{\QB Let your tears flow like a stream day and night.
\par }{\Q Don’t stop crying
\par }{\QB or let your eyes dry.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}Get up throughout the night and cry for help.
\par }{\QB Let your sorrow pour out before the Lord like water.
\par }{\Q Lift up your hands in prayer to him.
\par }{\QB Ask him to let your children live.
\par }{\QB They are starving to death on every street corner.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}Look at us, LORD!
\par }{\QB Have you ever treated anyone else so badly?
\par }{\Q Is it right for women to eat their own babies,
\par }{\QB the children they have cared for?
\par }{\Q Should priests and prophets be killed
\par }{\QB in the Temple of the Lord?
\par }{\Q \VS{21}Young men and old men
\par }{\QB lie on the ground in the streets of the city.
\par }{\Q My young women and young men
\par }{\QB have been killed by the sword.
\par }{\Q You killed them on the day of your anger.
\par }{\QB You killed them without mercy!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{22}You invited terror to come to me from all around.
\par }{\QB You invited terror as though you were inviting it to a festival.
\par }{\Q No one escaped on the day of the LORD’S anger.
\par }{\QB My enemy killed the people who I raised and brought up.
\par }{\BB \par }
\Chap{3}{\SH The Meaning of Suffering
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}I am a man who has seen much trouble.
\par }{\QB God beat us with a stick, and I saw it happen.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}He led and brought me
\par }{\QB into darkness, not light.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}He turned his hand against me.
\par }{\QB He did this again and again, all day.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}He wore out my flesh and skin.
\par }{\QB He broke my bones.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}He built up bitterness and trouble against me.
\par }{\QB He surrounded me with bitterness and trouble.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}He put me in the dark,
\par }{\QB like someone who died long ago.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}He shut me in, so I could not get out.
\par }{\QB He put heavy chains on me.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Even when I cry out and ask for help,
\par }{\QB he does not listen to my prayer.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}He has blocked up my path with stones.
\par }{\QB He has made my path crooked.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}He is like a bear about to attack me,
\par }{\QB like a lion that is in a hiding place.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}He led me off my path.
\par }{\QB He tore me to pieces and ruined me.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}He made his bow ready.
\par }{\QB He made me the target for his arrows.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}He shot me in the stomach
\par }{\QB with his arrows.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}I have become a joke to all my people.
\par }{\QB All day long they sing songs about me and make fun of me.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}He gave me this poison to drink.
\par }{\QB He filled me with this bitter drink.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}He pushed my teeth into rocky ground.
\par }{\QB He pushed me into the dirt.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}I thought I would never have peace again.
\par }{\QB I forgot about good things.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}I said to myself, “I no longer have any hope
\par }{\QB that the LORD will help me.”
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Remember, I am very sad,
\par }{\QB and I have no home.
\par }{\QB Remember the bitter poison that you gave me.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}I remember well all my troubles,
\par }{\QB and I am very sad.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}But then I think about this,
\par }{\QB and I have hope:
\par }{\Q \VS{22}We are still alive because
\par }{\QB the LORD’S faithful love never ends.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Every morning he shows it in new ways!
\par }{\QB You are so very true and loyal!
\par }{\Q \VS{24}I say to myself, “The LORD is my God,
\par }{\QB and I trust him.”\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:24 }
{\FK{The LORD … him
}}{\FT{Or “The LORD is my portion and I trust him.”}}}
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{25}The LORD is good to those who wait for him.
\par }{\QB He is good to those who look for him.
\par }{\Q \VS{26}It is good to wait quietly
\par }{\QB for the LORD to save them.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}It is good for a man to wear his yoke
\par }{\QB from the time he is young.
\par }{\Q \VS{28}He should sit alone and be quiet
\par }{\QB when the Lord puts his yoke on him.
\par }{\Q \VS{29}He should bow down to the Lord.
\par }{\QB Maybe there is still hope.
\par }{\Q \VS{30}He should turn his cheek to the one who hits him
\par }{\QB and let people insult him.
\par }{\Q \VS{31}He should remember that
\par }{\QB the Lord does not reject people forever.
\par }{\Q \VS{32}When he punishes, he also has mercy.
\par }{\QB He has mercy because of his great love and kindness.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{33}He does not enjoy causing people pain.
\par }{\QB He does not like to make anyone unhappy.
\par }{\Q \VS{34}He does not like any prisoner on earth
\par }{\QB to be trampled down.
\par }{\Q \VS{35}He does not like anyone to be unfair to another person.
\par }{\QB Some people will do such things right in front of God Most High.
\par }{\Q \VS{36}The Lord does not like anyone to cheat another person.
\par }{\QB He does not like any of these things.
\par }{\Q \VS{37}No one can say something and make it happen,
\par }{\QB unless the Lord orders it.
\par }{\Q \VS{38}God Most High commands
\par }{\QB both good and bad things to happen.
\par }{\Q \VS{39}No one alive can complain
\par }{\QB when he punishes them for their sins.
\par }{\Q \VS{40}Let us check and see what we have done.
\par }{\QB Then let us turn back to the LORD.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{41}Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
\par }{\QB to the God of heaven.
\par }{\Q \VS{42}Let us say to him, “We have sinned and have been stubborn.
\par }{\QB Because of this, you have not forgiven us.
\par }{\Q \VS{43}You wrapped yourself with anger.
\par }{\QB You chased us.
\par }{\QB You killed us without mercy!
\par }{\Q \VS{44}You wrapped yourself in a cloud
\par }{\QB so that no prayer could get through.
\par }{\Q \VS{45}You made us like garbage and dirt
\par }{\QB to the other nations.
\par }{\Q \VS{46}All of our enemies
\par }{\QB speak angrily against us.
\par }{\Q \VS{47}We have been frightened.
\par }{\QB We have fallen into a pit.
\par }{\Q We have been badly hurt.
\par }{\QB We have been broken.”
\par }{\Q \VS{48}My eyes flow with streams of tears.
\par }{\QB I cry because of the destruction of my people.
\par }{\Q \VS{49}My eyes will flow without stopping.
\par }{\QB I will keep on crying.
\par }{\Q \VS{50}I will continue to cry
\par }{\QB until you look down and see us, LORD!
\par }{\Q I will continue to cry
\par }{\QB until you see us from heaven.
\par }{\Q \VS{51}My eyes make me sad, when I see
\par }{\QB what happened to the young women in my city.
\par }{\Q \VS{52}For no reason,
\par }{\QB my enemies hunted me like a bird.
\par }{\Q \VS{53}They threw me alive into a pit
\par }{\QB and then threw stones at me.
\par }{\Q \VS{54}Water came up over my head.
\par }{\QB I said to myself, “I am finished.”
\par }{\Q \VS{55}LORD, I called your name
\par }{\QB from the bottom of the pit.
\par }{\Q \VS{56}You heard my voice.
\par }{\QB You didn’t close your ears.
\par }{\QB You didn’t refuse to rescue me.
\par }{\Q \VS{57}You came to me on the day that I called out to you.
\par }{\QB You said to me, “Don’t be afraid.”
\par }{\Q \VS{58}You defended me
\par }{\QB and bought me back to life.
\par }{\Q \VS{59}LORD, you have seen my trouble.
\par }{\QB Now judge my case for me.
\par }{\Q \VS{60}You have seen how my enemies have hurt me.
\par }{\QB You have seen all the evil plans that they made against me.
\par }{\Q \VS{61}You heard them insult me, LORD.
\par }{\QB You have heard all the evil plans that they made against me.
\par }{\Q \VS{62}The words and the thoughts of my enemies
\par }{\QB are against me all the time—
\par }{\QB \VS{63}when they sit down and when they stand up.
\par }{\QB Look how they make fun of me!
\par }{\Q \VS{64}Give them back what they deserve, LORD.
\par }{\QB Pay them back for what they have done.
\par }{\Q \VS{65}Make them stubborn
\par }{\QB and then curse them.
\par }{\Q \VS{66}Chase them in anger and destroy them.
\par }{\QB Wipe them off the face of the earth, LORD!
\par }{\BB \par }
\Chap{4}{\SH The Horrors of the Attack on Jerusalem
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}See how the gold has grown dark,
\par }{\QB how the pure gold has changed.
\par }{\Q There are jewels\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:1 }
{\FK{jewels
}}{\FT{The meaning of the Hebrew word here is uncertain.}}} scattered all around
\par }{\QB at every street corner.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}The precious people of Zion
\par }{\QB were once worth more than gold.
\par }{\Q But now they are treated like something worthless,
\par }{\QB like the cheap clay jars a potter makes.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Even a wild dog feeds her babies.
\par }{\QB Even the jackal lets her pups suck at her breast.
\par }{\Q But the daughter of my people\FTNT{†}{{\FR 4:3 }
{\FK{daughter of my people
}}{\FT{Another name for Jerusalem. Also in verse 6.}}} is cruel.
\par }{\QB She is like the ostrich in the desert that forgets its eggs in the sand.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Babies are so thirsty
\par }{\QB their tongues stick to the roof of their mouths.
\par }{\Q Young children ask for bread,
\par }{\QB but no one gives them any.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Those who ate rich food
\par }{\QB are now dying in the streets.
\par }{\Q Those who grew up wearing nice red clothes
\par }{\QB now pick through garbage piles.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The sin of the daughter of my people was very great.
\par }{\QB Their sin was greater than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.
\par }{\Q Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed suddenly.
\par }{\QB No human hand caused their destruction.\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 4:6 }
{\FK{No human hand … destruction
}}{\FT{The Hebrew text here is hard to understand.}}}
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Some of the men of Judah were dedicated to God in a special way.
\par }{\QB They were very pure.
\par }{\Q They were whiter than snow,
\par }{\QB and whiter than milk.
\par }{\Q Their bodies were red like coral
\par }{\QB and their beards like sapphire stones.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}But now their faces are blacker than soot.
\par }{\QB No one even recognizes them in the streets.
\par }{\Q Their skin is wrinkled over their bones.
\par }{\QB Their skin is like wood.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}It was better for those who were killed by the sword
\par }{\QB than for those who died of hunger.
\par }{\Q Those starving people were sad and hurt.
\par }{\QB They died because they got no food from the field.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Then even nice women
\par }{\QB cooked their own children.
\par }{\Q The children were food for their mothers.
\par }{\QB This happened when my people were destroyed.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}The LORD used all of his anger.
\par }{\QB He poured out all his anger.
\par }{\Q He made a fire in Zion
\par }{\QB that burned it down to the foundations.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}The kings of the earth could not believe what had happened.
\par }{\QB The people of the world could not believe what had happened.
\par }{\Q They could not believe that enemies
\par }{\QB would be able to come through the city gates of Jerusalem.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}This happened because the prophets
\par }{\QB of Jerusalem sinned.
\par }{\Q This happened because the priests
\par }{\QB of Jerusalem did evil things.
\par }{\Q They were shedding the blood of good people
\par }{\QB in the city of Jerusalem.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}The prophets and priests walked around
\par }{\QB like blind men in the streets.
\par }{\Q They had become dirty with blood.
\par }{\QB No one could even touch their clothes because they were dirty.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}People shouted, “Go away!
\par }{\QB Go away! Don’t touch us.”
\par }{\Q They wandered around and had no home.
\par }{\QB People in other nations said,
\par }{\QB “We don’t want them to live with us.”
\par }{\Q \VS{16}The LORD himself destroyed them.
\par }{\QB He didn’t look after them anymore.
\par }{\Q He didn’t respect the priests.
\par }{\QB He was not friendly to the elders of Judah.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}We have worn out our eyes looking for help,
\par }{\QB but no help comes.
\par }{\Q We kept on looking for a nation to save us.
\par }{\QB We kept watch from our watchtower,
\par }{\QB but no nation came to us.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Our enemies hunted us all the time.
\par }{\QB We could not even go out into the streets.
\par }{\Q Our end came near. Our time was up.
\par }{\QB Our end came!
\par }{\Q \VS{19}The men who chased us
\par }{\QB were faster than eagles in the sky.
\par }{\Q They chased us into the mountains.
\par }{\QB They hid in the desert to catch us.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}The king was very important to us.
\par }{\Q He was like the breath we breathe,
\par }{\QB but he was trapped by them.
\par }{\Q The LORD himself chose the king,
\par }{\QB and we said this about the king,
\par }{\Q “We will live in his shadow.
\par }{\QB He protects us from the nations.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}Be happy, people of Edom.
\par }{\QB Be happy, you who live in the land of Uz.
\par }{\Q But remember, the cup of the Lord’s anger will come around to you too.
\par }{\QB When you drink from that cup,
\par }{\QB you will get drunk and strip off all your clothes.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}Your punishment is complete, Zion.
\par }{\QB You will not go into captivity again.
\par }{\Q But the Lord will punish your sins, people of Edom.
\par }{\QB He will uncover your sins.
\par }{\BB \par }
\Chap{5}{\SH A Prayer to the Lord
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Remember, LORD, what happened to us.
\par }{\QB Look and see our shame.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Our land has been turned over to strangers.
\par }{\QB Our houses have been given to foreigners.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}We have become orphans.
\par }{\QB We have no father.
\par }{\QB Our mothers have become like widows.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}We have to buy the water that we drink.
\par }{\QB We have to pay for the wood that we use.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}We are forced to wear a yoke on our necks.
\par }{\QB We get tired, and we have no rest.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}We made an agreement with Egypt.
\par }{\QB We also made an agreement with Assyria to get enough bread.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Our ancestors sinned against you, and now they are dead.
\par }{\QB And we are suffering because of their sins.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Slaves have become our rulers.
\par }{\QB No one can save us from them.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}We risk our lives to get food.
\par }{\QB There are men in the desert with swords.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Our skin is hot like an oven.
\par }{\QB We have a high fever because of our hunger.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}The enemy raped the women of Zion.
\par }{\QB They raped the women in the cities of Judah.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}The enemy hanged our princes.
\par }{\QB They didn’t honor our elders.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}The enemy made our young men grind grain at the mill.
\par }{\QB Our young men stumbled under loads of wood.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}The elders no longer sit at the gates of the city.
\par }{\QB The young men no longer make music.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}We have no more joy in our hearts.
\par }{\QB Our dancing has changed to crying for the dead.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}The crown has fallen from our head.
\par }{\QB Things have gone bad for us because we sinned.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For this reason, our hearts have become sick,
\par }{\QB and our eyes cannot see clearly.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Mount Zion is a wasteland.
\par }{\QB Foxes run around on Mount Zion.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}But you rule forever, LORD.
\par }{\QB Your kingly chair lasts forever and ever.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}You seem to have forgotten us forever.
\par }{\QB You seem to have left us alone for such a long time.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}Bring us back to you, LORD.
\par }{\QB We will gladly come back to you.
\par }{\QB Make our lives as they were before.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}You were very angry with us.
\par }{\QB Have you completely rejected us?
\par }