Lamentations 1:11-16

New International Reader's Version

¹¹ All Jerusalem’s people groan
    as they search for bread.
They trade their treasures for food
    just to stay alive.
Jerusalem says, “Lord, look at me.
    Think about my condition.
    Everyone looks down on me.”

¹² Jerusalem also says, “All you who are passing by,
    don’t you care about what has happened to me?
    Just look at my condition.
Has anyone suffered the way I have?
    The Lord has brought all this on me.
He has made me suffer.
    His anger has burned against me.

¹³ “He sent down fire from heaven.
    It went deep down into my bones.
He spread a net to catch me by the feet.
    He stopped me right where I was.
He made me empty.
    I am sick all the time.

¹⁴ “My sins have been made into a heavy yoke.
    They were woven together by his hands.
They have been placed on my neck.
    The Lord has taken away my strength.
He has handed me over to my enemies.
    I can’t win the battle over them.

¹⁵ “The Lord has refused to accept
    any of my soldiers.
He has sent for an army
    to crush my young men.
I am like grapes in the Lord’s winepress.
    He has stomped on me,
    even though I am his very own.

¹⁶ “That’s why I am weeping.
    Tears are flowing from my eyes.
No one is near to comfort me.
    No one can heal my spirit.
My children don’t have anything.
    My enemies are much too strong for me.”