Lamentations 1
The Prophet Speaks:
א (Alef)1
1:12 Alas!3 The city once full of people4
now sits all alone!5
The prominent6 lady among the nations
has become a widow!7
The princess8 who once ruled the provinces9
has become10 a forced laborer!11
ב (Bet)
1:2 She weeps bitterly at night;
tears stream down her cheeks.12
She has no one to comfort her
among all her lovers.13
All her friends have betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.
ג (Gimel)
1:3 Judah14 has departed into exile
under15 affliction and harsh oppression.16
She17 lives among the nations;
she has found no resting place.
All who pursued her overtook her
ד (Dalet)
1:4 The roads to Zion20 mourn21
because no one22 travels to the festivals.23
All her city gates24 are deserted;25
her priests groan.26
Her virgins grieve;27
she is in bitter anguish!28
ה (He)
1:5 Her foes subjugated her;29
her enemies are at ease.30
For the
because of her many acts of rebellion.31
Her children went away
captive32 before the enemy.
ו (Vav)
1:6 All of Daughter Zion’s33 splendor34
has departed.35
Her leaders became like deer;
they found no pasture,
so they were too exhausted to escape36
from the hunter.37
ז (Zayin)
when40 she became a poor homeless person,41
all her treasures
that she owned in days of old.42
When her people fell into an enemy’s grip,43
none of her allies came to her rescue.44
Her enemies45 gloated over46 her;
they sneered47 at her downfall.48
ח (Khet)
1:8 Jerusalem committed terrible sin;49
therefore she became an object of scorn.50
All who admired51 her have despised her52
because they have seen her nakedness.53
She groans aloud54
and turns away in shame.55
ט (Tet)
1:9 Her menstrual flow56 has soiled57 her clothing;58
she did not consider59 the consequences of her sin.60
Her demise61 was astonishing,62
and there was no one to comfort her.
She cried, “Look,63 O
because my65 enemy boasts!”
י (Yod)
1:10 An enemy grabbed66
all her valuables.67
Indeed she watched in horror68 as Gentiles69
invaded her holy temple70 –
those whom you71 had commanded:
“They must not enter72 your assembly place.”73
כ (Kaf)
as they searched for a morsel of bread.74
They exchanged75 their valuables76
for77 just enough food
to stay alive.78
Jerusalem Speaks:
“Look, O
that I have become worthless!”
ל (Lamed)
1:12 Is it nothing to you,80 all you who pass by on the road?81
Look and see!
Is there any pain like mine?
The Lord82 has afflicted me,83
he84 has inflicted it on me
when85 he burned with anger.86
מ (Mem)
1:13 He sent down fire87
into my bones, and it overcame88 them.
He spread out a trapper’s net89 for my feet;
he made me turn back.
He has made me desolate;
I am faint all day long.
נ (Nun)
1:14 My sins are bound around my neck like a yoke;90
they are fastened together by his hand.
He has placed his yoke91 on my neck;92
he has sapped my strength.93
The Lord94 has handed me over95
to those whom I cannot resist.
ס (Samek)
1:15 He rounded up96 all my mighty ones;97
The Lord98 did this99 in100 my midst.
He summoned an assembly101 against me
to shatter my young men.
The Lord has stomped like grapes102
the virgin daughter, Judah.103
ע (Ayin)
1:16 I weep because of these things;
my eyes104 flow with tears.105
For there is no one in sight who can comfort me106
or encourage me.107
My children108 are desolated109
because an enemy has prevailed.
The Prophet Speaks:
פ (Pe)
1:17 Zion spread out her hands,
but there is no one to comfort her.
The
his neighbors110 have become his enemies.
Jerusalem has become
like filthy garbage111 in their midst.112
Jerusalem Speaks:
צ (Tsade)
1:18 The
Yes, I rebelled against his commands.114
Please listen, all you nations,115
and look at my suffering!
My young women and men
have gone into exile.
ק (Qof)
1:19 I called for my lovers,116
but they had deceived me.
My priests and my elders
perished in the city.
Truly they had117 searched for food
to118 keep themselves119 alive.120
ר (Resh)
1:20 Look, O
my stomach is in knots!122
My heart is pounding123 inside me.
Yes, I was terribly rebellious!124
Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children;125
Inside the house death is present.126
ש (Sin/Shin)
1:21 They have heard127 that I groan,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that you128 have brought it about.129
Bring about130 the day of judgment131 that you promised132
so that133 they may end up134 like me!
ת (Tav)
1:22 Let all their wickedness come before you;
afflict135 them
just as you have afflicted136 me137
because of all my acts of rebellion.138
For my groans are many,
and my heart is sick with sorrow.139