Study Desk

How ^(C1)lonely sits the city That once had ^(C2)many people! She has become like a ^(C3)widow Who was once ^(C4)great among the nations! She who was a princess among the ^(F1)provinces Has become a ^(C5)forced laborer!

She ^(C1)weeps bitterly in the night, And her tears are on her cheeks; She has no one to comfort her Among all her ^(C2)lovers. All her friends have ^(C3)dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.

^(C1)Judah has gone into exile out of affliction And ^(F1)harsh servitude; She lives ^(C2)among the nations, But she has not found a resting place; All those who ^(C3)pursued her have overtaken her In the midst of ^(F2)distress.

The roads ^(F1)of Zion are in mourning Because ^(C1)no one comes to an appointed feast. All her gates are ^(C2)deserted; Her priests groan, Her ^(C3)virgins are worried, And as for Zion herself, it is ^(C4)bitter for her.

Her adversaries have become ^(F1)her masters, Her enemies are ^(F2)secure; For the LORD has ^(F3)(C1)caused her grief Because of the multitude of her wrongdoings; Her little ones have gone away As captives ^(F4)led by the enemy.

All of her ^(C1)splendor Is gone from the daughter of Zion; Her leaders have become like deer That have found no pasture, And they have ^(F1)(C2)fled without strength ^(F2)From the pursuer.

In the days of her affliction and homelessness ^(C1)Jerusalem remembers all her treasures That were hers since the days of old, When her people fell into the hand of the adversary And ^(C2)no one helped her. The adversaries saw her, They ^(C3)laughed at her ^(F1)ruin.

Jerusalem sinned ^(C1)greatly, Therefore ^(C2)she has become an ^(F1)object of ridicule. All who honored her despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Even ^(C3)she herself groans and turns away.

Her ^(C1)uncleanness was in her garment's seams; She ^(F1)did not think of her ^(C2)future. So she has ^(F2)(C3)fallen in an astonishing way; ^(C4)She has no comforter. "^(C5)See, LORD, my affliction, For the enemy has ^(F3)(C6)honored himself!"

The adversary has stretched out his hand Over all her precious things, For she has seen the ^(C1)nations enter her sanctuary, The ones whom You commanded That they were ^(C2)not to enter Your congregation.

All her people groan, ^(C1)seeking bread; They have given their treasures for food To ^(C2)restore their ^(F1)lives. "See, LORD, and look, For I am ^(C3)despised."

"Is it ^(C1)nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was inflicted on me, With which the ^(C2)LORD tormented me on the day of His ^(C3)fierce anger.

-"From ^(F1)the height He sent fire into my ^(C1)bones, And it dominated them. He has spread a ^(C2)net for my feet; He has turned me back; He has made me ^(C3)desolate, ^(F2)Faint all day long.

-"The ^(C1)yoke of my wrongdoings is bound; By His hand they are woven together. They have ^(C2)come upon my neck; He has made my strength ^(F1)fail. The Lord ^(C3)has handed me over To those against whom I am not able to stand.

-"The ^(C1)Lord has thrown away all my strong men In my midst; He has called an appointed ^(F1)time against me To crush my ^(C2)young men; The Lord has ^(C3)trodden as in a wine press The virgin daughter of Judah.

-"For these things I ^(C1)weep; ^(F1)My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a ^(C2)comforter, One to restore my soul. My children are desolate Because the enemy has prevailed."

Zion ^(C1)stretches out with her hands; There is no one to comfort her; The LORD has ^(C2)commanded regarding Jacob That those around him become his adversaries; ^(C3)Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.

"The LORD is ^(C1)righteous, For I have ^(C2)rebelled against His ^(F1)command; Hear now, all peoples, And ^(C3)see my pain; ^(C4)My virgins and my young men Have gone into captivity.

-"I ^(C1)called to my lovers, but they deserted me; My ^(C2)priests and my elders perished in the city While they sought food to ^(C3)restore their ^(F1)strength themselves.

-"See, LORD, for I am in distress; My ^(F1)(C1)spirit is greatly troubled; My heart is overturned within me, For I have been very ^(C2)rebellious. In the street the sword has made women childless; In the house it is like death.

-"They have heard that I ^(C1)groan; There is no one to comfort me, All my enemies have heard of my disaster; They are ^(C2)joyful that You have done it. Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed, So that they will become ^(C3)like me.

-"May all their wickedness come before You; And ^(C1)deal with them just as You have dealt with me For all my wrongdoings. For my groans are many and my heart is faint."