Lamentations 1:3-5

Easy-to-Read Version

³ Judah suffered very much,
    and then she was taken into captivity.
She lives among other nations
    but has found no rest.
The people who chased her caught her
    where there was no way out.^[a]
4 The roads to Zion are very sad,
    because no one comes to Zion for the festivals anymore.
All of Zion’s gates have been destroyed;
    all her priests groan in sorrow.
Zion’s young women have been taken away,^[b]
    and all this made Zion sad.
⁵ Jerusalem’s enemies have won.
    Her enemies have been successful.
This happened because the Lord punished her.
    He punished Jerusalem for her many sins.
Her children have gone away.
    Their enemies captured them and took them away.