Lamentations 2:10-18
Revised Standard Version
10 The elders of the daughter of Zion
sit on the ground in silence;
they have cast dust on their heads
and put on sackcloth;
the maidens of Jerusalem
have bowed their heads to the ground.
11 My eyes are spent with weeping;
my soul is in tumult;
my heart is poured out in grief[a]
because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because infants and babes faint
in the streets of the city.
12 They cry to their mothers,
“Where is bread and wine?”
as they faint like wounded men
in the streets of the city,
as their life is poured out
on their mothers’ bosom.
13 What can I say for you, to what compare you,
O daughter of Jerusalem?
What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you,
O virgin daughter of Zion?
For vast as the sea is your ruin;
who can restore you?
14 Your prophets have seen for you
false and deceptive visions;
they have not exposed your iniquity
to restore your fortunes,
but have seen for you oracles
false and misleading.
15 All who pass along the way
clap their hands at you;
they hiss and wag their heads
at the daughter of Jerusalem;
“Is this the city which was called
the perfection of beauty,
the joy of all the earth?”
16 All your enemies
rail against you;
they hiss, they gnash their teeth,
they cry: “We have destroyed her!
Ah, this is the day we longed for;
now we have it; we see it!”
17 The Lord has done what he purposed,
has carried out his threat;
as he ordained long ago,
he has demolished without pity;
he has made the enemy rejoice over you,
and exalted the might of your foes.
18 Cry aloud[b] to the Lord!
O[c] daughter of Zion!
Let tears stream down like a torrent
day and night!
Give yourself no rest,
your eyes no respite!
Footnotes
- Lamentations 2:11 Heb to the ground
- Lamentations 2:18 Cn: Heb Their heart cried
- Lamentations 2:18 Cn: Heb O wall of
Lamentations 2:10-18
New International Version
10 The elders of Daughter Zion
sit on the ground in silence;(A)
they have sprinkled dust(B) on their heads(C)
and put on sackcloth.(D)
The young women of Jerusalem
have bowed their heads to the ground.(E)
11 My eyes fail from weeping,(F)
I am in torment within(G);
my heart(H) is poured out(I) on the ground
because my people are destroyed,(J)
because children and infants faint(K)
in the streets of the city.
12 They say to their mothers,
“Where is bread and wine?”(L)
as they faint like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
as their lives ebb away(M)
in their mothers’ arms.(N)
13 What can I say for you?(O)
With what can I compare you,
Daughter(P) Jerusalem?
To what can I liken you,
that I may comfort you,
Virgin Daughter Zion?(Q)
Your wound is as deep as the sea.(R)
Who can heal you?
14 The visions of your prophets
were false(S) and worthless;
they did not expose your sin
to ward off your captivity.(T)
The prophecies they gave you
were false and misleading.(U)
15 All who pass your way
clap their hands at you;(V)
they scoff(W) and shake their heads(X)
at Daughter Jerusalem:(Y)
“Is this the city that was called
the perfection of beauty,(Z)
the joy of the whole earth?”(AA)
16 All your enemies open their mouths
wide against you;(AB)
they scoff and gnash their teeth(AC)
and say, “We have swallowed her up.(AD)
This is the day we have waited for;
we have lived to see it.”(AE)
Footnotes
- Lamentations 2:17 Horn here symbolizes strength.
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