Lamentations 2:8-14

New International Version

⁸ The Lord determined to tear down
    the wall around Daughter Zion.^(A)
He stretched out a measuring line^(B)
    and did not withhold his hand from destroying.
He made ramparts^(C) and walls lament;
    together they wasted away.^(D)

⁹ Her gates^(E) have sunk into the ground;
    their bars^(F) he has broken and destroyed.
Her king and her princes are exiled^(G) among the nations,
    the law^(H) is no more,
and her prophets^(I) no longer find
    visions^(J) from the Lord.

¹⁰ The elders of Daughter Zion
    sit on the ground in silence;^(K)
they have sprinkled dust^(L) on their heads^(M)
    and put on sackcloth.^(N)
The young women of Jerusalem
    have bowed their heads to the ground.^(O)

¹¹ My eyes fail from weeping,^(P)
    I am in torment within^(Q);
my heart^(R) is poured out^(S) on the ground
    because my people are destroyed,^(T)
because children and infants faint^(U)
    in the streets of the city.

¹² They say to their mothers,
    “Where is bread and wine?”^(V)
as they faint like the wounded
    in the streets of the city,
as their lives ebb away^(W)
    in their mothers’ arms.^(X)

¹³ What can I say for you?^(Y)
    With what can I compare you,
    Daughter^(Z) Jerusalem?
To what can I liken you,
    that I may comfort you,
    Virgin Daughter Zion?^(AA)
Your wound is as deep as the sea.^(AB)
    Who can heal you?

¹⁴ The visions of your prophets
    were false^(AC) and worthless;
they did not expose your sin
    to ward off your captivity.^(AD)
The prophecies they gave you
    were false and misleading.^(AE)