18 The Lord is righteous: for I have rebelled against his [a]commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my Priests and mine Elders perished in the city, while they [b]sought their meat to refresh their souls.

20 Behold, O Lord, how I am troubled: my bowels swell: mine heart is turned within me, for I am full of heaviness: the sword spoileth abroad, as death doeth at home.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:18 Hebrew, mouth.
  2. Lamentations 1:19 That is, they died for hunger.

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

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

20 “See, Lord, how distressed(G) I am!
    I am in torment(H) within,
and in my heart I am disturbed,(I)
    for I have been most rebellious.(J)
Outside, the sword bereaves;
    inside, there is only death.(K)

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