Lamentations (Eikha)

16 For these things I weep, my eye, my eye streams water; for the one who could console me is far away from me, the one who would restore my soul to me. My children became desolate when the enemy mastered.” 17 Zion spreads her hands - there is none to console her. The Lorp commanded 18 enemies to Jacob all around, Jerusalem an outcast among them, bleeding. She says, “The Lorn is just: I had refused His word. “Listen, please, all peoples, see this pain. My young girls and youths have gone 19 offin captivity. I called out to my suitors: they have deceived me. My priests and my elders have starved in the city, they sought bread for themselves, to 20 restore their souls. See, LORD, I am anguished. My stomach churns. My heart turns over in me, for I have refused You. Outside the sword bereaves me; at home it is like death. 21 “Hear me — 1 am groaning, there is none to console me. My enemies heard of my suffering, all - they rejoiced: You have done this. When You bring the 22 day You called for, then they shall be like me. Let all their evil come before You and do to them all that You have done to me for all my crimes. My groans are grown many, and my heart is ailing.” 21 How, in His rage, the Lorp darkens the skies of daughter Zion. He has flung from Heaven down to earth all of Israel’s splendor. He had no thought for 2 His footstool on the day of His rage. The Lorp devoured, showed no mercy for the sheepfolds of Jacob, devoured, in His great rage, daughter Judah's fortresses — down they came to earth - and brought low kingdom, princes. 3 With burning rage He hacked off the horn of Israel’s glory, and held His right hand back, to let the enemy come. He burnt like flames of fire in Jacob, 4 consuming on all sides. He trod His bow like the enemy, like a foe His right hand rose, and He killed all those the eye treasured. s Inthe tent of daughter Zion, He poured out rage like fire. It is as if He were the enemy; the Lorp devoured Israel, devoured all her palaces, razed her 6 fortresses; in daughter Judah grew much moaning, mourning. He stripped His Shelter like a garden, destroyed His Sanctuary of meeting. The Lorp has made forgotten in Zion, such things as feast and Sabbath. He debased, in His 7 flaming rage, king and priest. The Lorp shunned His altar, renounced His own Temple, gave over the walls of her palaces to the enemy’s hand. They called out in the Lorn’s House as if it were a feast day. 8 The Lorp planned demolition for the walls of daughter Zion. He stretched out the ruling line, devoured, did not hold back. Now boundary and wall are