HOW she lies desolate, the city once crowded with people! She who was greatest among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has been put to forced labor.

She weeps aloud during the night, with tears on her cheeks. There is no one to offer her comfort, not one from all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

Judah is in exile passing through affliction and harsh slavery; she lives among foreign nationals but finds no place to rest. All her pursuers have overtaken her in narrow places.

The roads in Zion [Judah, the southern kingdom] are deserted; no one comes to the annual festivals [the feast of Passover, the Feast of Booths and the feast of Pentecost]. All her cities are deserted; her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she herself is bitter.

Her adversaries have become her master; her enemies are at ease. The Self-existent has made her suffer because of her many transgressions. Enemies have led her children away to captivity.

All beauty has vanished from the dearest people of Zion [Judah, the southern kingdom]. Her leaders are like hungry stags; they walk away exhausted in front of her pursuers.

In her affliction and penury, the city of the Peaceful [the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] - Jerusalem - remembers all her precious possessions in days of old. When her people fell into the adversary’s hand, she had no one to help her. The adversaries looked at her and mocked her downfall.

The sins of the city of the Peaceful [the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] - Jerusalem - have turned her to an object of scorn, all those who used to respect her now despise her having seen her nakedness; so, she is sorrowful and hides her face.

Because she did not give consideration for her end, she stained her skirts with filth. Therefore, her downfall was catastrophic, yet, no one sympathized with her. (The Self-existent, see how I have been afflicted; the enemy is now much set by.)

The adversary has dispossessed her of all her precious belongings because she allowed foreign nationals whom You forbid in the congregation of Your people to enter her palace.

All her citizens groan as they search for what to eat; they had to exchange their valuables for foodstuff in order to remain alive. (The Self-existent, see how I have become despised.)

Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine, which was dealt out to me, which the Self-existent made me suffer on the day of His burning anger?

He sent fire from the sky into my bones and weakened them . He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, sick all day long.

My transgressions, formed into a yoke and fastened together by His hand, have been placed on my neck; the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] has weakened my strength – He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand.

The Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] has rendered all the mighty men within me powerless. He has summoned an army against me to crush my young warriors. The Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] has trampled the dearest one, Judah, the dearest nation, like grapes in a winepress.

I weep because of these things; my eyes flow with tears. There is no one nearby to comfort me – no one to lift up my spirit. My children are desolate because the enemy prevailed.

Zion [Judah, the southern kingdom] laments, yet there is no one to console her. The Self-existent has issued a decree against Jacob [Judah, the southern kingdom] that his enemies should encircle him. The city of the Peaceful [the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit] - Jerusalem - has become a menstruous woman among them.

The Self-existent is just. All these are happening because I rebelled against His command. Listen to my groanings, all you people and see my pain: My young men and women have gone into captivity.

I called to my lovers, but they betrayed me. My priests and elders slumped and died in the city while looking for food to keep body and soul together.

The Self-existent, see how I am in distress. I am churning within; my heart is broken because I have been very rebellious. Outside, sword takes the children; inside, the living is as good as dead!

My acquaintances heard my groanings, but none consoles me. My enemies heard of my misery and were glad that You are behind it all. You will, surely, bring about that day you have called for; they shall become what I became.

Bring all their evil deeds to remembrance and deal with them as You have, with me, due to my sins. I am overwhelmed with grieve; I am sick at heart.