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 Yahweh is righteous;
    I have rebelled against his word.[a]
Please hear, all the nations,
    And see my pain;
My young women[b] and young men
    went into captivity.
19 I have called to my lovers,
    they themselves deceived me;
my priests and elders perished in the city
    when they sought food for themselves
        to revive their life.[c]
20 See, O Yahweh, that I am in distress;[d]
    my stomach[e] is in torment,
my heart has turned inside me
    because I have certainly rebelled.
From outside a sword brings bereavement,
    inside the house it is like death.
21 They hear that I was groaning;
    there is no comforter for me.
All my enemies have heard my misery,
    they are pleased that you have done it.
Bring that day that you have proclaimed,[f]
    And let them be like me.
22 Let all their evil come before you;
    and deal with them
just as you have dealt with me
    because of all my crimes;
for my groaning is much and my heart is faint.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:18 Literally “his mouth”
  2. Lamentations 1:18 Or “virgins”
  3. Lamentations 1:19 Or “their soul”
  4. Lamentations 1:20 Literally “there is distress for me”
  5. Lamentations 1:20 Literally “inner parts”
  6. Lamentations 1:21 Or “you have called”