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Jerusalem remembers
    in days of wretched homelessness,
All the precious things she once had
    in days gone by.
But when her people fell into the hands of the foe,
    and she had no help,
Her foes looked on and laughed
    at her collapse.

Jerusalem has sinned grievously,
    therefore she has become a mockery;
Those who honored her now demean her,
    for they saw her nakedness;
She herself groans out loud,
    and turns away.(A)

Her uncleanness is on her skirt;
    she has no thought of her future.
Her downfall is astonishing,
    with no one to comfort her.
“Look, O Lord, at my misery;
    how the enemy triumphs!”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1:9 Zion breaks in on the poet’s description in v. 9c, albeit briefly, to demand that the Lord face squarely her misery. She takes up the lament in a more sustained fashion in v. 11c.

In the days of her affliction and wandering
    Jerusalem remembers all the treasures
    that were hers in days of old.
When her people fell into enemy hands,
    there was no one to help her.(A)
Her enemies looked at her
    and laughed(B) at her destruction.

Jerusalem has sinned(C) greatly
    and so has become unclean.(D)
All who honored her despise her,
    for they have all seen her naked;(E)
she herself groans(F)
    and turns away.

Her filthiness clung to her skirts;
    she did not consider her future.(G)
Her fall(H) was astounding;
    there was none to comfort(I) her.
“Look, Lord, on my affliction,(J)
    for the enemy has triumphed.”

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