Lamentations 2:10-18

New International Version

¹⁰ The elders of Daughter Zion
    sit on the ground in silence;^(A)
they have sprinkled dust^(B) on their heads^(C)
    and put on sackcloth.^(D)
The young women of Jerusalem
    have bowed their heads to the ground.^(E)

¹¹ My eyes fail from weeping,^(F)
    I am in torment within^(G);
my heart^(H) is poured out^(I) on the ground
    because my people are destroyed,^(J)
because children and infants faint^(K)
    in the streets of the city.

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

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

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

¹⁵ All who pass your way
    clap their hands at you;^(V)
they scoff^(W) and shake their heads^(X)
    at Daughter Jerusalem:^(Y)
“Is this the city that was called
    the perfection of beauty,^(Z)
    the joy of the whole earth?”^(AA)

¹⁶ All your enemies open their mouths
    wide against you;^(AB)
they scoff and gnash their teeth^(AC)
    and say, “We have swallowed her up.^(AD)
This is the day we have waited for;
    we have lived to see it.”^(AE)

¹⁷ The Lord has done what he planned;
    he has fulfilled^(AF) his word,
    which he decreed long ago.^(AG)
He has overthrown you without pity,^(AH)
    he has let the enemy gloat over you,^(AI)
    he has exalted the horn^[a] of your foes.^(AJ)

¹⁸ The hearts of the people
    cry out to the Lord.^(AK)
You walls of Daughter Zion,^(AL)
    let your tears^(AM) flow like a river
    day and night;^(AN)
give yourself no relief,
    your eyes no rest.^(AO)