² “Judah mourns,^(B)
    her cities languish;
they wail for the land,
    and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.
³ The nobles send their servants for water;
    they go to the cisterns
    but find no water.^(C)
They return with their jars unfilled;
    dismayed and despairing,
    they cover their heads.^(D)
4 The ground is cracked
    because there is no rain in the land;^(E)
the farmers are dismayed
    and cover their heads.
⁵ Even the doe in the field
    deserts her newborn fawn
    because there is no grass.^(F)
6 Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights^(G)
    and pant like jackals;
their eyes fail
    for lack of food.”^(H)

⁷ Although our sins testify^(I) against us,
    do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.^(J)
For we have often rebelled;^(K)
    we have sinned^(L) against you.
⁸ You who are the hope^(M) of Israel,
    its Savior^(N) in times of distress,^(O)
why are you like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who stays only a night?
⁹ Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
    like a warrior powerless to save?^(P)
You are among^(Q) us, Lord,
    and we bear your name;^(R)
    do not forsake^(S) us!

“They greatly love to wander;
    they do not restrain their feet.^(T)
So the Lord does not accept^(U) them;
    he will now remember^(V) their wickedness
    and punish them for their sins.”^(W)

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears^(AR)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin^(AS) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.^(AT)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.^(AU)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.^(AV)’”

¹⁹ Have you rejected Judah completely?^(AW)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?^(AX)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.^(AY)
20 We acknowledge^(AZ) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;^(BA)
    we have indeed sinned^(BB) against you.
²¹ For the sake of your name^(BC) do not despise us;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne.^(BD)
Remember your covenant^(BE) with us
    and do not break it.
²² Do any of the worthless idols^(BF) of the nations bring rain?^(BG)
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this.^(BH)

“‘Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;^(BM)
those for starvation, to starvation;^(BN)
those for captivity, to captivity.’^(BO)

⁵ “Who will have pity^(BX) on you, Jerusalem?
    Who will mourn for you?
    Who will stop to ask how you are?
⁶ You have rejected^(BY) me,” declares the Lord.
    “You keep on backsliding.
So I will reach out^(BZ) and destroy you;
    I am tired of holding back.^(CA)
7 I will winnow^(CB) them with a winnowing fork
    at the city gates of the land.
I will bring bereavement^(CC) and destruction on my people,^(CD)
    for they have not changed their ways.^(CE)
8 I will make their widows^(CF) more numerous
    than the sand of the sea.
At midday I will bring a destroyer^(CG)
    against the mothers of their young men;
suddenly I will bring down on them
    anguish and terror.^(CH)
9 The mother of seven will grow faint^(CI)
    and breathe her last.^(CJ)
Her sun will set while it is still day;
    she will be disgraced^(CK) and humiliated.
I will put the survivors to the sword^(CL)
    before their enemies,”^(CM)
declares the Lord.

¹⁰ Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,^(CN)
    a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!^(CO)
I have neither lent^(CP) nor borrowed,
    yet everyone curses^(CQ) me.

“Surely I will deliver you^(CR) for a good purpose;
    surely I will make your enemies plead^(CS) with you
    in times of disaster and times of distress.

¹² “Can a man break iron—
    iron from the north^(CT)—or bronze?

¹³ “Your wealth^(CU) and your treasures
    I will give as plunder,^(CV) without charge,^(CW)
because of all your sins
    throughout your country.^(CX)
14 I will enslave you to your enemies
    in^[b] a land you do not know,^(CY)
for my anger will kindle a fire^(CZ)
    that will burn against you.”

¹⁵ Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.^(DA)
You are long-suffering^(DB)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.^(DC)
16 When your words came, I ate^(DD) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,^(DE)
for I bear your name,^(DF)
    Lord God Almighty.
¹⁷ I never sat^(DG) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand^(DH) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(DI)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(DJ)

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve^(DK) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.^(DL)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
²⁰ I will make you a wall^(DM) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome^(DN) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”^(DO)
declares the Lord.
²¹ “I will save^(DP) you from the hands of the wicked^(DQ)
    and deliver^(DR) you from the grasp of the cruel.”^(DS)