Lamentations 2:10-22

¹⁰ The elders of the daughter of Zion Sit on the ground , they are silent . They have thrown dust on their heads ; They have girded themselves with sackcloth . The virgins of Jerusalem Have bowed their heads to the ground . ¹¹ My eyes fail because of tears , My spirit is greatly troubled ; My heart is poured out on the earth Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people , When little ones and infants faint In the streets of the city . ¹² They say to their mothers , " Where is grain and wine ?" As they faint like a wounded man In the streets of the city , As their life is poured out On their mothers' bosom . ¹³ How shall I admonish you? To what shall I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem ? To what shall I liken you as I comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion ? For your ruin is as vast as the sea ; Who can heal you? ¹⁴ Your prophets have seen for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your iniquity So as to restore you from captivity , But they have seen for you false and misleading oracles . ¹⁵ All who pass along the way Clap their hands in derision at you; They hiss and shake their heads At the daughter of Jerusalem , "Is this the city of which they said , ' The perfection of beauty , A joy to all the earth '?" ¹⁶ All your enemies Have opened their mouths wide against you; They hiss and gnash their teeth . They say , "We have swallowed her up! Surely this is the day for which we waited ; We have reached it, we have seen it." ¹⁷ The Lord has done what He purposed ; He has accomplished His word Which He commanded from days of old . He has thrown down without sparing , And He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the might of your adversaries . ¹⁸ Their heart cried out to the Lord , "O wall of the daughter of Zion , Let your tears run down like a river day and night ; Give yourself no relief , Let your eyes have no rest . ¹⁹ "Arise , cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches ; Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord ; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones Who are faint because of hunger At the head of every street ." ²⁰ See , O Lord , and look ! With whom have You dealt thus ? Should women eat their offspring , The little ones who were born healthy ? Should priest and prophet be slain In the sanctuary of the Lord ? ²¹ On the ground in the streets Lie young and old ; My virgins and my young men Have fallen by the sword . You have slain them in the day of Your anger , You have slaughtered , not sparing . ²² You called as in the day of an appointed feast My terrors on every side ; And there was no one who escaped or survived In the day of the Lord'S anger . Those whom I bore and reared , My enemy annihilated them.