Lamentations 2
In his rage, the LORD's covered Jerusalem's face;
from the heavens, he's thrown down her glory and grace.
In the day of his anger, no mercy was shown;
he's forgotten his footstool, and his temple's unknown.
The LORD's swallowed their houses where they used to dwell,
and he's torn down the strongholds of Judah as well.
He has brought down her people and they've been disgraced;
he's defiled her kingdom, her rulers, debased.
In fierce anger, he's cut off the strength of her land;
with her enemies, he has drawn back his right hand.
He has burned against Jacob like flaming hot fire,
while consuming the land and all things with his ire.
Like an enemy, poised, he has drawn back his bow;
and his right hand is set like a dangerous foe.
He has struck down the youthful and fair as he went;
with his fiery rage burning every man's tent.
The LORD's swallowed up Judah like billows that pound;
all his palaces swallowed, and strongholds are drowned.
He has brought on the Daughter of Judah such grief;
from her wailing and mourning, there is no relief.
He has torn down his temple like some garden shed;
he's abolished the sabbaths they've planned for ahead.
He's forgotten their holiest upcoming feasts;
in his terrible rage, spurned their king and their priests.
The LORD casts off his altars, his temples, ignored;
he's allowed Zion's towers be taken by sword.
In the house of the LORD, where they shout and elate;
they make noises like we did when we'd celebrate.
He determined to tear down her beautiful wall,
so he stretched forth his line and made every stone fall.
He caused ramparts and walls to lament where they lay;
and together, they languished and wasted away.
Zion's gates have been buried, its bars lay on piles;
now her king and her princes have been made exiles.
But the law, by the priesthood, is no longer taught;
and the visions the LORD sent are no longer brought.
All the elders of Zion in solitude keep,
bring up handfuls of dust to their bare heads and heap.
And Jerusalem's virgins now walk to and fro,
looking down at the ground with their heads hanging low.
From my weeping, my eyes are tormented with pain;
and my heart mourns with grief that my people are slain.
My heart aches as the youth in the streets faint and swoon;
how it aches that the newborns are dying too soon.
To their mothers, they cry, Give us drink! Let us eat!
And they faint like the wounded men out in the street.
They will cling to their mother's breast out of despair,
and then die in her arms when they find no milk there.
What can I say? What words could relieve your despair?
Who is like you? Such anguish! There's none to compare.
Who could comfort? Your wound is as deep as the sea.
Who could heal you? Your loss is as great as can be.
For your prophets deceived you with visions and lies;
they exposed not your sins, neither opened your eyes.
And their oracles given, with malice intent,
that mislead you to think that you need not repent.
People clapping their hands as they're passing your way;
they deride and they scorn Daughter Zion, and say,
Were you called the perfection of beauty before?
Do you think you're the joy of the earth anymore?
All your enemies mock you as they saunter past,
and while scoffing, they say, We've destroyed you at last!
We have waited so long for this day to appear;
we have longed for it so much and now it is here!
But the LORD is the one who's done what he's decreed;
he's fulfilled everything that he's promised, indeed.
He's thrown down, without mercy, and made your foes boast;
he's exalted the might of your enemy host.
Cry aloud with your hearts, people, let the LORD know,
Oh, you walls of Jerusalem, let your tears flow
day and night, like a river — a river possessed!
Give yourself no relief nor your eyes any rest.
Arise, cry in the night, as the first watches start,
and like water, before the LORD, pour out your heart.
For the lives of your children, lift your hands up high,
for they faint in the streets from their hunger and die.
LORD, consider and see, to whom all this was done!
Should a woman eat her little daughter or son?
Were her children not born in good health and adored?
Priests and prophets are slain in the house of the LORD!
Young and old lay entwined in the dusty streets, LORD;
my young men and young women were killed by the sword.
They were slain in the day of your anger and rage,
you've unsparingly slaughtered, regardless of age.
As you'd summon for feasting, you've summoned my foes;
and the fears and the terrors around me, LORD, grows.
On the day of your wrath, none can flee nor avoid;
for the children I've raised, by my foes, are destroyed.
from the heavens, he's thrown down her glory and grace.
In the day of his anger, no mercy was shown;
he's forgotten his footstool, and his temple's unknown.
The LORD's swallowed their houses where they used to dwell,
and he's torn down the strongholds of Judah as well.
He has brought down her people and they've been disgraced;
he's defiled her kingdom, her rulers, debased.
In fierce anger, he's cut off the strength of her land;
with her enemies, he has drawn back his right hand.
He has burned against Jacob like flaming hot fire,
while consuming the land and all things with his ire.
Like an enemy, poised, he has drawn back his bow;
and his right hand is set like a dangerous foe.
He has struck down the youthful and fair as he went;
with his fiery rage burning every man's tent.
The LORD's swallowed up Judah like billows that pound;
all his palaces swallowed, and strongholds are drowned.
He has brought on the Daughter of Judah such grief;
from her wailing and mourning, there is no relief.
He has torn down his temple like some garden shed;
he's abolished the sabbaths they've planned for ahead.
He's forgotten their holiest upcoming feasts;
in his terrible rage, spurned their king and their priests.
The LORD casts off his altars, his temples, ignored;
he's allowed Zion's towers be taken by sword.
In the house of the LORD, where they shout and elate;
they make noises like we did when we'd celebrate.
He determined to tear down her beautiful wall,
so he stretched forth his line and made every stone fall.
He caused ramparts and walls to lament where they lay;
and together, they languished and wasted away.
Zion's gates have been buried, its bars lay on piles;
now her king and her princes have been made exiles.
But the law, by the priesthood, is no longer taught;
and the visions the LORD sent are no longer brought.
All the elders of Zion in solitude keep,
bring up handfuls of dust to their bare heads and heap.
And Jerusalem's virgins now walk to and fro,
looking down at the ground with their heads hanging low.
From my weeping, my eyes are tormented with pain;
and my heart mourns with grief that my people are slain.
My heart aches as the youth in the streets faint and swoon;
how it aches that the newborns are dying too soon.
To their mothers, they cry, Give us drink! Let us eat!
And they faint like the wounded men out in the street.
They will cling to their mother's breast out of despair,
and then die in her arms when they find no milk there.
What can I say? What words could relieve your despair?
Who is like you? Such anguish! There's none to compare.
Who could comfort? Your wound is as deep as the sea.
Who could heal you? Your loss is as great as can be.
For your prophets deceived you with visions and lies;
they exposed not your sins, neither opened your eyes.
And their oracles given, with malice intent,
that mislead you to think that you need not repent.
People clapping their hands as they're passing your way;
they deride and they scorn Daughter Zion, and say,
Were you called the perfection of beauty before?
Do you think you're the joy of the earth anymore?
All your enemies mock you as they saunter past,
and while scoffing, they say, We've destroyed you at last!
We have waited so long for this day to appear;
we have longed for it so much and now it is here!
But the LORD is the one who's done what he's decreed;
he's fulfilled everything that he's promised, indeed.
He's thrown down, without mercy, and made your foes boast;
he's exalted the might of your enemy host.
Cry aloud with your hearts, people, let the LORD know,
Oh, you walls of Jerusalem, let your tears flow
day and night, like a river — a river possessed!
Give yourself no relief nor your eyes any rest.
Arise, cry in the night, as the first watches start,
and like water, before the LORD, pour out your heart.
For the lives of your children, lift your hands up high,
for they faint in the streets from their hunger and die.
LORD, consider and see, to whom all this was done!
Should a woman eat her little daughter or son?
Were her children not born in good health and adored?
Priests and prophets are slain in the house of the LORD!
Young and old lay entwined in the dusty streets, LORD;
my young men and young women were killed by the sword.
They were slain in the day of your anger and rage,
you've unsparingly slaughtered, regardless of age.
As you'd summon for feasting, you've summoned my foes;
and the fears and the terrors around me, LORD, grows.
On the day of your wrath, none can flee nor avoid;
for the children I've raised, by my foes, are destroyed.
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