The Prophet Speaks:
a 2:1
Alas!1
The LORD has covered2
Zion3
with the cloud of his anger!
He has thrown down the splendor of Israel
from heaven to earth;
he did not protect4
the temple5
when he displayed his anger.6
b 2:2 The LORD7
has destroyed8
all the homes of Jacob’s descendants;9
and10
he has shown no mercy.
In his wrath he has torn down
every fortified city11
in Judah.12
He has toppled13
the kingdom and its rulers,
putting them to shame.14
g 2:3 In his15
fierce anger16
he destroyed17
the whole army18
of Israel.
He withdrew his protection19
when the advancing enemy army attacked.20
He was like a raging fire burning up21
the land of Jacob’s descendants;22
it consumed everything around it.
d 2:4 Like an
enemy he strung23
his archer’s bow;
his right hand was ready to shoot.24
Like a foe he has slain
all our vigorous young men;25
he has poured out his wrath like fire
on the tents26
of Zion.27
h 2:5 The LORD28
was like an enemy;
he has devastated29
Israel.
He has devastated30
all its31
palaces
and has destroyed its32
fortified cities.
He made everyone in Judah33
mourn and lament.34
w 2:6 He has
laid waste his temple35
like a vineyard;36
he has destroyed his appointed meeting place.
The LORD has made it impossible for the city of Zion37
to celebrate38
the appointed festivals and Sabbaths.
In his fierce anger39
he has rejected40
Judah’s king and priests.41
z 2:7 The LORD42
has rejected his altar
and has abandoned his temple.43
He allowed the enemy to capture44
the fortified-palaces in Jerusalem;45
The enemy46
shouted in celebration47
in the temple48
of the LORD,
like, ironically enough, on the day appointed to celebrate a religious feast.49
j 2:8 The LORD was determined to tear
down
the walls around the city of Zion.50
He marked out the walls of Jerusalem for destruction,51
and he did not relent52
until they were destroyed.53
He made the ramparts and fortified-walls lament;
both of them mourned their destruction.54
f 2:9 The city
gates55
have fallen down56
to the ground;
the bars that lock the gates57
have been smashed to pieces.58
Jerusalem’s king and princes59
were taken into exile into other countries;60
there is no longer any guidance available.61
As for her prophets,
they can no longer obtain62
a vision from the LORD.
y 2:10 The elders
of the city of Zion63
sit64
on the ground in silence;65
they have thrown ashes upon their heads;
they clothed themselves with66
sackcloth.
The young single women67
of Jerusalem
stare down at the ground in grief.68
k 2:11 My eyes
are worn out69
because of all my tears;70
my stomach is in knots.71
My bile72
is poured out on the ground,
because of the destruction73
of my beloved Jerusalem,74
because infants and new-born babies faint from hunger75
in the streets of the city.
l 2:12 Children76
cry out to their mothers77
for food and drink.78
Then they lose consciousness79
like a wounded warrior
in the streets of the city.
Then they die slowly80
in the arms81
of their mothers.
m 2:13 With
what can I equate82
you?
To what can I compare you, O Jerusalem?83
To what can I liken you,84
so that85
I might comfort you, O City of Zion?86
Your wound is as deep87
as the sea;88
No one can heal you!89
n 2:14 The visions
that your prophets proclaimed to you90
were empty91
lies;92
they failed to expose your sin
which could have delivered you from exile.93
They proclaimed94
oracles to you
that were false95
deceptions.96
s 2:15 All who pass by you on the
road
clap their hands to mock you;97
they sneer and shake their heads
at Jerusalem:98
“Ha! This is the city whose former inhabitants said,99
‘It is perfect in beauty,100
the source of joy101
to the whole earth!’”
p 2:16 All your enemies
jeer at you.102
They sneer and gnash their teeth;
they say, “We have destroyed103
her!
Ha! We have waited a long time for this day!
We have actually lived to see it!”104
u 2:17 The LORD has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled105
his promise106
which he threatened107
to do long ago:108
he has overthrown you without mercy.109
He has allowed the enemy gloat over you;
he has enabled your adversaries to boast110
about their military might.111
x 2:18 Cry out112
earnestly113
to the LORD,114
O Wall of Zion!115
Let your tears flow like a river
from dawn to dusk!116
Do not allow yourself any rest;
do not let your tears117
stop!
q 2:19 Get up!
Cry out for help in the night118
at the beginning119
of the night-watches!
Pour out your laments120
like water
before the presence of the LORD!121
Lift up your hands to him
on behalf of the lives122
of your children
Who123
are dying124
from hunger
at every street corner.125
Jerusalem Speaks:
r 2:20 O LORD,
think about it!126
Whom have you ever treated like this?!?
Should women cannibalize the children they have borne,127
perfectly healthy newborn infants?!?128
Should priest and prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the LORD?!?129
? 2:21 The young and old lie together
in the dust130
of the streets;
The young men and single young women131
of Jerusalem132
have falled by the sword.
You slew them when you were angry;133
you slaughtered them without pity.134
t 2:22 You invited,
as though on an appointed festival day,135
enemies136
to terrify me137
on every side.138
When the LORD became angry,139
no one escaped or survived.
The perfectly healthy children to whom I gave birth140
and raised,141
my enemy has destroyed.