¹After IsraEl was captured and JeruSalem was desolated, JeremiAh sat down and cried, wailing this lamentation over the city:‘O how that city, once filled with people Must now sit all alone. Among the nations, she [sits as] a widow… She is ruled and [must pay] a tribute.²‘She cried and wept all through the night, As tears rolled down her cheeks; For, no one is left to offer her comfort Among all those who once loved her. Yes, those who cared have now left her, And her enemies, they’ve become.³‘Humiliation has come upon Judah, For [all of her people] were [taken away] And she has become just a slave.‘Now, she finds no way to rest, Because she [belongs to] the gentiles. Yes, all those who chased her have caught her, And [she lives] among those who oppress her.⁴‘The roads to Zion now mourn, For there’s no one who comes there To celebrate her holiday feasts.‘All of her gates have been broken, All of her Priests must now groan, And all of her virgins are captives; So, inside herself, she’s bitter. ⁵For her head is those who oppose her, And to her enemies, [she now must submit].‘Her humiliation was brought by Jehovah, Because she no longer showed Him respect. So her young were led off as captives Before those who have oppressed her.⁶‘The daughters of Zion (her beauty) are gone, [And others now serve as] their rulers. As rams without pasture, they left without strength In front of those who’d pursued them. ⁷So, when she thinks of these days of disgrace, She is very upset.‘All of her beautiful things [are now gone]… Those things that she’s had since most ancient times. For her people fell into the hands of oppressors, And no one came to their aid. Then all her enemies laughed When they saw these things being taken away.⁸‘It was because of JeruSalem’s sins That she was allowed to be battered. She was humbled by the One who’d loved her When He saw how indecent she’d become. So now, she [just sits there and] groans, And all she does is reflect.⁹‘Her filth lies there at her feet, Because she forgot how things would work out. So, she’s now been brought low, And there’s no place where she can find comfort.‘[She cries]:‘O Lord, see how I’ve been shamed; For, to my enemies, I now must submit!’¹⁰‘Those who oppressed her have reached out their hands To take her desirable things. She watched as the gentiles entered her [Temple]… Those whom [God] said should not enter Among the assembly [of His people].¹¹‘Now, all of her people are groaning Because they’re searching for bread. Her desirable things, they’ve traded for food, In order to save their own lives.‘O Jehovah,‘Please look down upon this, For, she has been so disgraced![And she says:]¹²‘All those to whom You once became close But thereafter chose to reject You, Will see if there’s pain like the pain that I feel. For, I’ve been humbled by the One who addressed me… By Jehovah, in the day of His rage.¹³‘To my bones, He’s sent fire… Yes, fire is what He’s sent. Then He spread out a net for my feet To turn me back and make me retreat. He appointed me to be hidden from view And to grieve throughout the rest of my days.¹⁴‘He was aware of my godless deeds; For, they were close to my hands… And then they [crawled] up my neck. So, all of my strength has now left me, Since Jehovah’s put grief in my hands And I’m unable to stand.¹⁵‘All of my mighty have left me, As has Jehovah, [my God]. For the time arrived for His visit, And to break the best of my men. So the Lord has trodden the winepress Of the virgin daughter of Judah.’¹⁶‘It’s over such things that I weep… It’s why my eyes are now filled with tears. For, those who would offer me comfort (Those who would bring back my life) [Have now been carried] away. Yes, all of my sons are now gone… And by my enemies, I’ve been conquered.’¹⁷‘So, although Zion has spread out her hands, There’s no one who’ll come to console her. For Jehovah gave a warning to Jacob That they’d be surrounded by those who’d attack.‘JeruSalem was to serve as a woman Who was set apart from the unclean… Although she had to live in their midst. ¹⁸Yet, Jehovah has been proven righteous; For, we’re the ones who embittered His mouth.[‘For she says:]‘So, hear all you peoples and look at my pain, Since all my young men and virgins are gone… They’ve all been taken as captives!¹⁹‘I was misled by those whom I loved… My priests and my elders had failed me! They just wanted food for themselves, So they could save their own lives.²⁰‘Behold, O Lord, my painful condition, For my stomach is very upset And my heart is rolling within me!‘I’ve become very bitter, For the sword has left me without any sons… It’s as though there’s death in my home.²¹‘Listen indeed to my groaning, For there’s no one to offer me comfort. Since our enemies had heard of our badness, They rejoiced at the things that they did. But upon them, You’ll bring a day and a time When they’ll become just like me!²²‘Yes, may their evils fall upon them… Glean them as they’ve gleaned me for my sins! For, [they’re the cause] of my groaning, And they’re the ones upsetting my heart.’

¹‘O how dark was the rage of Jehovah When it came to the daughter of Zion. For He pulled IsraEl’s glory out of the heights And threw it down to the ground… Yes, in the day of His rage, He forgot the stool for His feet.²‘[He] didn’t hold back, nor did He spare Jacob’s beautiful things. In His rage, He destroyed all the forts Of the virgin daughter of Judah. He cut them down to the ground, And profaned our rulers and king.³‘He broke them to pieces in anger and rage, Taking all of IsraEl’s strength… He turned His hand from the enemy’s face And allowed them to set Jacob ablaze… To consume everything that’s around him.⁴‘As an enemy, He stretched tight His bow, And as an opponent, he stiffened His hand To destroy all the things that my eyes had desired. On the Tents of the daughters of Zion, He poured out the flames of His rage.⁵‘So Jehovah became our enemy… He sunk IsraEl and all its estates. He also destroyed all its forts… The strongholds of the daughters of Judah.‘He multiplied those who were humbling us, And increased the numbers of humbled.⁶‘Like a grapevine, He spread out His Tent, And His holiday feasts, He corrupted. He forgot all the things He’d appointed for Zion… The holiday feasts and the Sabbaths. He did this, because we’d provoked Him, Then He threatened our king and our priests in His rage.⁷‘[He] thrust away His own Altar… His Holy Place, He’s brushed aside. So our enemies broke down our walls, And shouted in the House of Jehovah As we used to do on our holiday feasts.⁸‘Jehovah made plans to ruin the walls Of the virgin daughter of Zion. First, He stretched out His ruler, Then His hand sent a trampling upon us, Which caused us to mourn around all our walls, Because the walls were destroyed, ⁹And the gates had been cut to the ground… They broke and destroyed the bars for our gates!‘So now, her king and her rulers Have been scattered among all the nations, And there’s no longer a Law, Nor do our prophets see visions.¹⁰‘They silently sit on the ground (The elders of the daughter of Zion) As they throw dust on their heads… As they’re dressing in sackcloth… As the heads of JeruSalem’s virgins Are being pushed to the ground.¹¹‘Then the tears in my eyes started to fail, Because my heart had become so disturbed. My glory had just been poured on the ground By the destruction of all the daughters And the nursing mothers with babies, There in our city squares.¹²‘From the mothers, they demanded their grain and their wine When they were as weak as the wounded. Then, in those squares, they poured out the lives [Of the babies] that nursed at their breasts.¹³‘And now, what more can I say, O virgin daughter of JeruSalem… To what can you be compared? Who can now come and save you, O virgin daughter of Zion… Since the cup of destruction was widened for you, Who can now bring you healing?¹⁴‘Although your prophets saw all of your folly, They refused to uncover your sins And save you from this captivity… Even though they were concerned about your foolish ways, And they knew that you had to be purged!¹⁵‘Now, people clap hands as they’re passing, And whistle as they shake their heads Over JeruSalem’s daughter:‘Isn’t she the one who was called glory’s crown… The most joyful place on the earth?’¹⁶‘But your enemies opened their mouths And whistled, as they ground their teeth. They said:‘We’ll swallow her down, And this is the day that we planned… We found it and [we made it happen]!’¹⁷‘So Jehovah did what He’d decided… He finished what He said must be done… The things that He said [He must do] long ago. So He didn’t spare, He demolished… He brought your enemies joy over you, And raised the trumpets of those who attacked you!¹⁸‘Before Jehovah, they were yelling:‘We’ll tear down all of Zion’s walls And make its people stream tears day and night! Don’t allow them the time to get sober, Or to let their eyes become still!’¹⁹‘So, during the night, awaken and think… At the start of each watch, pour out your hearts Before the face of Jehovah! Raise your arms up before Him On behalf of the children who are starving, Which are found on every street corner!²⁰‘Behold, O Lord…‘See what You’ve gleaned! Should women eat the fruit of their bellies? Should the babies be murdered as they’re nursing on breasts? Will you kill the priests and the prophets Inside the Holy Place of Jehovah?²¹‘Young boys must now sleep in the streets Along with the old men and virgins. My young men were all taken captive, And then killed by the famine and swords. For, in the day of Your rage, You slashed and You haven’t spared any!²²‘As a festival day (as no other day), You called to those living around us. Then because of Your rage, no one was saved… They left no one behind… My enemies were filled, and You won.’

¹‘Now, I’m a man who’s helpless, For the rod of His rage has been laid upon me. ²He took me, then led me away Into the darkness (not into the light).³‘So, throughout the rest of my days, Against me, He’s turned His hand. ⁴My flesh and my skin, He’s made old, And He’s broken my bones.⁵‘Against me, He’s now built [a wall], And my head He’s encircled with trouble. ⁶Inside a dark place, He has put me, As though I’d been dead throughout the ages.⁷‘Against me, He’s constructed a wall Through which I can’t escape, And with a brass chain, He’s weighed me down.⁸‘Although I cry out and yell, He’s shut out my prayers… ⁹He’s blocked all my roads and my ways!¹⁰‘He’s become a bear that’s lying in wait, And a lion that’s lurking, unseen. ¹¹When I rebelled, He then chased me down And caused me to no longer be… He established me to be wiped away.¹²‘He’s stretched tight His bow, And set me on a stone as His target. ¹³Into my kidneys, He’s shot poison arrows ¹⁴And He’s made me a source of His laughter… A psalm throughout the whole day.¹⁵‘With bitterness, He’s now filled me, And bile, I’ve been given to drink. ¹⁶With a small rock, He knocked out my teeth, And then He gave me ashes to eat.¹⁷‘He’s pushed peace from my life, And made me forget all the good things I had. ¹⁸So I said that my victory had perished Along with my hope in Jehovah.¹⁹‘But, this is what I remembered:‘Despite the state that I came to be in (My persecution, bitterness, and bile), ²⁰I haven’t been forgotten… Yes, my life will continue! ²¹This is [the thought] that I’ve kept in my heart, And the reason why I keep on waiting.²²‘For the mercies of [God] never end, And His compassions will never fail. ²³Each morning, they’re renewed, And on Him, we can always rely.²⁴‘The portion that’s mine is Jehovah,’ said my soul. And because of this, I’ll keep waiting. ²⁵For Jehovah is good to all those who wait And wholeheartedly keep searching for Him.²⁶‘So it’s good [for us all] to be quiet And await Jehovah’s salvation. ²⁷And it’s also good for each man to bear His own yoke from the time he’s young.²⁸‘Yes, we should sit all alone And quietly carry our loads, ²⁹Then put our mouths to the dust, And believe that there’s still hope.³⁰‘We should turn the other cheek when they slap us, And we should accept all their scorn. ³¹For, [in our hearts], we’ll know that Jehovah Won’t push us away throughout the ages. ³²Since, in His abundance of mercy, He shows pity for those who humble themselves.³³‘Harsh replies don’t come from His heart, As He teaches sons of men to be humble. ³⁴And now He’s humbled the feet Of those who’ve been carried away from this land.³⁵‘From before His face in the heights, He’s removed the decisions of men. ³⁶But Jehovah never said that He’d bring Condemnation upon all mankind. ³⁷And who could ever say such a thing… Yes, who could cause it to happen Without Jehovah saying it’s so?³⁸‘From His mouth in the heights can come good or bad. ³⁹So, why do the living choose to grumble At others concerning their sins? ⁴⁰For before Him, our ways are stretched and examined To see how we can be turned to the Lord. ⁴¹So, we should lift our hearts with our hands Towards the Most High in heaven.⁴²‘It’s because we’ve been irreverent sinners Who don’t deserve any forgiveness, ⁴³That we’ve been wrapped in His rage… Yes it’s because we chose to reject Him That He decided to send us away… Why He chose to destroy, not to spare us.⁴⁴‘So He wrapped Himself in a cloud And closed His eyes to our prayers… ⁴⁵Then He pushed us away.⁴⁶‘So against us, our enemies [shouted], ⁴⁷Which stunned us and made us feel fear… And then, our destruction arrived.⁴⁸‘So, tears have poured from my eyes For the destruction of the daughters of my people. ⁴⁹But I’ll [drink the tears] from my eyes, And I’ll not hold back or be quiet ⁵⁰Until the time that I can look through And see Jehovah in the heavens.⁵¹‘Now my eyes look back on my life in great rage For [what’s happened to] the daughters of my city.⁵²‘By our enemies, we were hunted like sparrows, ⁵³And now they’ve ended my life… They’ve tossed me into a grave And covered it up with a stone. ⁵⁴Then, as water dripped down on my head, I said:‘I’ve just been thrown away.’⁵⁵‘So I called on Your Name, O Jehovah, From out of the lowest of pits. ⁵⁶I said:‘Don’t cover Your ears… Hear my voice and the things that I beg.’⁵⁷‘Then You came to my aid on the day that I called, And You told me that I shouldn’t be afraid!⁵⁸‘O Lord,‘You have pleaded my case, And then You ransomed my soul. ⁵⁹For You’ve seen the things that they’ve done, O Jehovah; So pass judgement on them on my behalf.⁶⁰‘You’ve beheld their vengeance upon me, And the plans that they’ve laid out against me. ⁶¹You listened to their scornful words And saw the [things that they did]… ⁶²You heard from the lips of those who attacked me And You knew what they thought all day long. ⁶³For, when they sat down and when they arose, You saw what they did through their own eyes!⁶⁴‘O Jehovah,‘Will You pay them back for what they deserve, According to the works of their hands? ⁶⁵Curse them for all the trouble they’ve caused, ⁶⁶Then pursue them in rage and remove them From all places under the sky, O Lord.

¹‘O how the gold’s lost its luster And how the silver’s been tarnished; For the [Temple’s] holy stones have been tossed in the streets.²‘For because the sons of Zion esteemed And gained their courage from things made of gold, They came to be looked on as earthenware pots… And as works in the hands of a potter.³‘Then, nursing cubs were stripped from the breasts By those who’d become like the Dragon, And the daughters of my people were abandoned Like sparrows that are lost in the desert.⁴‘Now the tongues of the nursing, stick to the breasts, In hope that their thirst can be quenched. And as the infants are crying for bread, It’s being snatched from their mouths.⁵‘So from those who once ate the best, All been taken away… And those who were raised wearing purple Are found in the streets embracing manure.⁶‘For the lawless ways of my people’s daughters Proved to be greater than Sodom… That place which none tried to save When it was being wiped away.⁷‘Her Nazarites were once like the snow… Radiant and whiter than milk… Yes, even better than sapphires! ⁸But now, their appearance is darker than soot, And they’re unrecognized in the streets. For their skin is now stuck to their bones, And they’ve dried up like lumber.⁹‘It was better for those who were killed by the sword Than for those who’ve been pierced by starvation… Those in want of the produce of fields.¹⁰‘And the hands of women [who were known for their] pity, Then boiled their own children as food… So amid the destruction of the daughters of my people, ¹¹Jehovah completed His rage.‘Then, as He poured out the wrath of His rage, He lit a fire throughout Zion, Which burned her to her foundations.¹²‘To the kings of the earth who lived in that time, It was hard to believe… That an enemy could enter JeruSalem’s gates And then bring so much devastation.¹³‘But it happened because of the sins of her prophets… The failures of all her priests… And the shedding of innocent blood in her midst.¹⁴‘Then, in her streets, her watchmen were stunned; For, they became [spattered] with blood… It was something that they couldn’t avoid, Since the clothes that they wore had to touch it.¹⁵‘So, people started shouting:‘Get away… Get away, Because you’re all now unclean! Get away… Get away… Don’t touch them!’‘Then, after we fled and wandered about, The gentiles said:‘You can’t stay among us!’‘Yes the gentiles shouted at us:‘There’s no way that we want you to come here!’¹⁶‘Even though our portion was the person of [God], He no longer kept watch over us, For the people had shown no respect To their elders or Priests.¹⁷‘So our eyes had started to fail As we were searching for aid… They just watched us and offered no help… A nation with no one to save them.¹⁸‘Now, stay away from our city squares, For they’re hunting our young… Our time has approached and our days are fulfilled, So our end is now close at hand!¹⁹‘For, those who chase us are even more agile Than eagles [that attack from] the mountains… They’re sitting there and waiting for us From their perches high over the desert.²⁰‘Jehovah’s anointed (our life’s breath and lord) Has also been seized and carried away Because we became so corrupt… Yes, this one about whom we’d once said:‘Among the nations, we’ll dwell in his shadow.’²¹‘So rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom… The one who’s residing in Uz! Yet you’ll also go into the cup of the Lord, Where, after you’re drunk, you’ll be poured.’²²‘O great daughter of Zion; Your lawless acts have now reached their end, And [God] won’t be in the places you’re sent.‘And you, O daughter of Edom; He’ll also examine your lawless ways, And reveal your unrighteous deeds.

¹‘O Jehovah,‘Remember what’s happened to us… Look down and see how we’ve been scorned! ²Our inheritance has been [given] to strangers, And our houses have been offered to gentiles.³‘Since we don’t have fathers, we’re orphans, And all of our mothers are widows. ⁴So now we must pay for our water, And we must barter for wood.⁵‘Because we were closely pursued, We tired and couldn’t find rest. ⁶Then to Egypt, we held out our hands, And also to Assyria’s bounty.⁷‘Since our fathers had sinned, they’re now gone… They’ve paid the cost of breaking Your Law. ⁸And as a result, we’re now slaves, Who have no one to redeem us.⁹‘We carry bread at the risk of our lives Before the swords in the desert, ¹⁰And our skins are dark, as though oven baked, For they’ve shriveled from famine.¹¹‘They’ve [raped] the women of Zion, And the virgins in the cities of Judah. ¹²Rulers were hung by their hands, And no longer could elders be recognized.¹³‘So the best of men are now weeping, And from hauling wood, the young men are weak. ¹⁴Our elders no longer sit at our gates, And our [singers] no longer sing psalms. ¹⁵So what once brought joy and dance to our hearts, Has now been turned into dirges.¹⁶‘It’s because of our sins That the crowns of our heads reflect woe… ¹⁷The grief in our hearts is more grievous, And our eyes have become even darker.¹⁸‘Mount Zion has now been destroyed, And it looks like foxes ran through it. ¹⁹But You, O Jehovah, exist throughout the ages… Throughout generations of generations, Your throne has remained.²⁰‘So, why did You forget to let us succeed… Will we be forsaken throughout the rest of our days?²¹‘Please turn back to us, O Jehovah, Then, when we return, we’ll renew our days As they’d been long ago! ²²But we were pushed away and rejected Because we provoked You to rage.’