Lamentations 1

All 22 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Look at how the city sits alone — she who was once bursting with people! She has become like a widow, though she was once great among the nations. She who was a princess over provinces has become a tributary.
2. 2She weeps bitterly through the night, tears streaming down her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she has no one to comfort her. Every friend has betrayed her—they have all become her enemies.
3. 3Judah has gone into captivity because of affliction and great servitude. She lives among the heathen and finds no rest. All her persecutors overtook her in the narrow places.
4. 4The roads to Zion mourn because no one comes to the solemn feasts anymore. All her gates are desolate. Her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
5. 5Her adversaries are in charge, her enemies are prospering; for the LORD has afflicted her for her many transgressions. Her children have gone into captivity before the enemy.
6. 6All the beauty of the daughter of Zion has vanished. Her princes have become like deer that find no pasture, and they are too weak to escape from those pursuing them.
7. 7Jerusalem remembered in the days of her suffering and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the enemy's hand, and no one helped her. The enemies saw her and mocked at her Sabbaths.
8. 8Jerusalem has sinned terribly, so she is removed. All who honored her despise her because they have seen her nakedness. Yes, she sighs and turns back.
9. 9Her filth is on her skirts. She did not think about her end. So she fell in a shocking way, and she had no comforter. LORD, look at my suffering, for the enemy has lifted himself up.
10. 10The enemy has reached out his hand over all her pleasant things, for she has seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom you commanded should not enter into your congregation.
11. 11All her people groan as they search for bread; they have traded their precious things for meat to relieve the soul. Look, O LORD, and consider, for I have become vile.
12. 12"Does this mean nothing to you, everyone passing by? Stop and look — is there any pain like the pain inflicted on me, the pain the LORD brought down on me in the day of his burning anger?"
13. 13From above he sent fire into my bones, and it overpowered them. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate and weak all day long.
14. 14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand, woven together and placed on my neck. He has made my strength fail. The LORD has delivered me into the hands of those I cannot rise against.
15. 15The LORD has trampled underfoot all my mighty men within me. He has called an assembly against me to crush my young men. The LORD has trampled the virgin daughter of Judah as in a winepress.
16. 16This is why I weep; my eyes, my eyes overflow with tears, because the comforter who should relieve my soul is far from me. My children are desolate, because the enemy has prevailed.
17. 17Zion stretches out her hands, but no one comes to comfort her. The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob that his adversaries should surround him. Jerusalem is like a menstruous woman among them.
18. 18The LORD is righteous, because I rebelled against his commandment. Listen, all you people, and see my sorrow. My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.
19. 19I called for my lovers, but they deceived me. My priests and my elders died in the city, while they looked for food to relieve their souls.
20. 20Look, O LORD, for I am in distress; my insides are troubled, my heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled. Outside, the sword brings bereavement; at home, it is like death.
21. 21They have heard that I sigh; there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it. You will bring the day you have announced, and they will be like me.
22. 22"Let all their wickedness come before you, and deal with them the way you've dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans never stop, and my heart is utterly spent."