צ Tsade

18 The Lord is just,
for I have rebelled against his command.(A)
Listen, all you people;
look at my pain.
My young women and young men
have gone into captivity.(B)

ק Qoph

19 I called to my lovers,(C)
but they betrayed me.
My priests and elders
perished in the city
while searching for food
to keep themselves alive.(D)

ר Resh

20 Lord, see how I am in distress.
I am churning within;(E)
my heart is broken,[a]
for I have been very rebellious.
Outside, the sword takes the children;
inside, there is death.(F)

שׁ Shin

21 People have heard me groaning,(G)
but there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my misfortune;
they are glad that you have caused it.(H)
Bring on the day you have announced,
so that they may become like me.(I)

ת Taw

22 Let all their wickedness come before you,
and deal with them
as you have dealt with me
because of all my transgressions.(J)
For my groans are many,
and I am sick at heart.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:20 Lit is turned within me

18 The Lord is right, because I disobeyed his word.
Listen, all you people; look at my suffering.
My young women and young men have gone away as prisoners.

19 I called to my lovers, but they deceived me.
My priests and my elders have perished in the city;
they were looking for food to survive.

20 Pay attention, Lord, for I am in trouble. My stomach is churning;
my heart is pounding inside me because I am so bitter.
In the streets the sword kills; in the house it is like death.

21 People heard that I was groaning, that I had no comforter.
All my enemies heard about my distress; they were thrilled that you had done this.
Bring the day you have announced so they become like me!

22 Let all their evil come before you.
Then injure them like you’ve injured me because of all my wrong acts;
my groans are many, my heart is sick.

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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)

21 “People have heard my groaning,(L)
    but there is no one to comfort me.(M)
All my enemies have heard of my distress;
    they rejoice(N) at what you have done.
May you bring the day(O) 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.(P)
My groans(Q) are many
    and my heart is faint.”

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