Lamentations (Eikha)

9 grieving, laid pitiful together. Her gates are now sunk into the earth, their bars gone and broken. Her king and ministers are gone among the nations; there 10 is no counsel. Even her prophets find no vision of the Lorn. The elders in daughter Zion sit on the ground and are silent. They lift dust up upon their heads, wrap themselves in sacks; the young girls of Jerusalem lower their 11 heads to the ground. My eyes are wept away, my stomach churns, my marrow is poured out to the earth over my maiden nation’s breaking; as infants, little 12 ones, faint in the squares of the town; (they say to their mothers, “Where are grain and wine?”) as they faint away like the fallen in city squares; as their souls are poured out from them into their mothers’ laps. 13 How can 1 bear witness, to what can I liken you, daughter Jerusalem? What can 1 compare you to and comfort you, o virgin daughter Zion? Your breaking 14 as vast as the ocean, who will heal you? Your prophets brought you visions - empty, meaningless — and did not uncover your sin, to bring your fortunes 15 back. They saw empty burdens for you, misled you. All who cross your path clap their hands now in dismay. They whistle and shake their heads over daughter Jerusalem. “Can this really be that city that was called Perfect Beauty, the Delight of all the world?” 16 All your enemies gape their snarling mouths at you. They whistle and grate their teeth; they say, “We have devoured them: this is the very day we hoped 17 for — we have done it, seen it.” The Lorp has done what He planned to do. He has performed His word, His command of long ago. He destroyed and showed no mercy, brought the enemy joy over you; He raised the horn of 18 your foes’ power. The heart cries out towards the Lorp. O wall of daughter Zion, bring down tears like a stream; day and night, do not allow yourself rest, 19 let your eyes never be silent. Get up, give voice in the night, as every watch begins. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lorn. Lift up your palms to Him over the souls of your infants, who faint for very hunger at the end of every street. 20 Lorp, see, look on - to whom have You done this? Can women eat their own children, the little ones they nurtured? Can priest and prophet be murdered 21 in the Temple of the Lorp? Lying down on the earth of streets - youths, old men. My own young girls and youths have fallen to the sword. You have 22 killed on the day of Your rage; slaughtered, shown no compassion. You call those living around to come, as if it were a feast day. There is no refugee or remnant on the day of the Lorn’s rage. All those I nurtured and raised - my enemy disposed of. 31 Iam the man who has seen oppression at the staff of His rage. It is I that He