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18 “The Lord is right,” Jerusalem says,
    “for I rebelled against him.
Listen, people everywhere;
    look upon my anguish and despair,
for my sons and daughters
    have been taken captive to distant lands.

19 “I begged my allies for help,
    but they betrayed me.
My priests and leaders
    starved to death in the city,
even as they searched for food
    to save their lives.

20 Lord, see my anguish!
    My heart is broken
and my soul despairs,
    for I have rebelled against you.
In the streets the sword kills,
    and at home there is only death.

21 “Others heard my groans,
    but no one turned to comfort me.
When my enemies heard about my troubles,
    they were happy to see what you had done.
Oh, bring the day you promised,
    when they will suffer as I have suffered.

22 “Look at all their evil deeds, Lord.
    Punish them,
as you have punished me
    for all my sins.
My groans are many,
    and I am sick at heart.”

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18 “The Lord is (A)righteous,
For I have (B)rebelled against His [a]command;
Hear now, all peoples,
And (C)see my pain;
(D)My virgins and my young men
Have gone into captivity.
19 I (E)called to my lovers, but they deserted me;
My (F)priests and my elders perished in the city
While they sought food to (G)restore their [b]strength themselves.
20 See, Lord, for I am in distress;
My [c](H)spirit is greatly troubled;
My heart is overturned within me,
For I have been very (I)rebellious.
In the street the sword has made women childless;
In the house it is like death.
21 They have heard that I (J)groan;
There is no one to comfort me,
All my enemies have heard of my disaster;
They are (K)joyful that You have done it.
Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed,
So that they will become (L)like me.
22 May all their wickedness come before You;
And (M)deal with them just as You have dealt with me
For all my wrongdoings.
For my groans are many and my heart is faint.”

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:18 Lit mouth
  2. Lamentations 1:19 Lit soul
  3. Lamentations 1:20 Lit inward parts are in ferment