18 “The Lord is righteous,(A)
    yet I rebelled(B) against his command.
Listen, all you peoples;
    look on my suffering.(C)
My young men and young women
    have gone into exile.(D)

19 “I called to my allies(E)
    but they betrayed me.
My priests and my elders
    perished(F) in the city
while they searched for food
    to keep themselves alive.

20 “See, Lord, how distressed(G) I am!
    I am in torment(H) within,
and in my heart I am disturbed,(I)
    for I have been most rebellious.(J)
Outside, the sword bereaves;
    inside, there is only death.(K)

21 “People have heard my groaning,(L)
    but there is no one to comfort me.(M)
All my enemies have heard of my distress;
    they rejoice(N) at what you have done.
May you bring the day(O) you have announced
    so they may become like me.

22 “Let all their wickedness come before you;
    deal with them
as you have dealt with me
    because of all my sins.(P)
My groans(Q) are many
    and my heart is faint.”

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18 The Lord is in the right,
    but I rebelled against his commands.
Listen, please, all you people,
    and look at my pain—
my young men and women[a]
    have gone into captivity.

19 I called out to my lovers,[b]
    but they deceived me.
My priests and my elders
    have died within the city
while looking for something to eat
    to keep themselves alive.

20 Look, Lord, how distressed I am;
    all my insides are churning.
My heart is troubled within me,
    because I vigorously rebelled.
Outside the sword brings loss of life,
    while at home death rules.

21 People[c] heard how I groan,
    with no one to comfort me.
All my adversaries have heard about my troubles;
    they rejoice that you have caused them.
Bring on the day you have promised,
    so my adversaries[d] will become like me.
22 May all of their wickedness come to your attention,
    and deal with them
as you have done with me
    because of all my transgressions.
For I am constantly groaning,
    and my heart is faint.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:18 Lit. virgins
  2. Lamentations 1:19 Or friends
  3. Lamentations 1:21 Lit. They
  4. Lamentations 1:21 Lit. so they