¹⁶ “This is why I weep
    and my eyes overflow with tears.^(A)
No one is near to comfort^(B) me,
    no one to restore my spirit.
My children are destitute
    because the enemy has prevailed.”^(C)

¹⁷ Zion stretches out her hands,^(D)
    but there is no one to comfort her.
The Lord has decreed for Jacob
    that his neighbors become his foes;^(E)
Jerusalem has become
    an unclean^(F) thing^(G) among them.

¹⁸ “The Lord is righteous,^(H)
    yet I rebelled^(I) against his command.
Listen, all you peoples;
    look on my suffering.^(J)
My young men and young women
    have gone into exile.^(K)

¹⁹ “I called to my allies^(L)
    but they betrayed me.
My priests and my elders
    perished^(M) in the city
while they searched for food
    to keep themselves alive.

²⁰ “See, Lord, how distressed^(N) I am!
    I am in torment^(O) within,
and in my heart I am disturbed,^(P)
    for I have been most rebellious.^(Q)
Outside, the sword bereaves;
    inside, there is only death.^(R)

²¹ “People have heard my groaning,^(S)
    but there is no one to comfort me.^(T)
All my enemies have heard of my distress;
    they rejoice^(U) at what you have done.
May you bring the day^(V) you have announced
    so they may become like me.

²² “Let all their wickedness come before you;
    deal with them
as you have dealt with me
    because of all my sins.^(W)
My groans^(X) are many
    and my heart is faint.”