ו (Vav)
1:6 All of Daughter Zion’s 1 splendor 2
has departed. 3
Her leaders became like deer;
they found no pasture,
so they were too exhausted to escape 4
from the hunter. 5
ז (Zayin)
1:7 Jerusalem 6 remembers, 7
when 8 she became a poor homeless person, 9
all her treasures
that she owned in days of old. 10
When her people fell into an enemy’s grip, 11
none of her allies came to her rescue. 12
Her enemies 13 gloated over 14 her;
they sneered 15 at her downfall. 16
ח (Khet)
1:8 Jerusalem committed terrible sin; 17
therefore she became an object of scorn. 18
All who admired 19 her have despised her 20
because they have seen her nakedness. 21
She groans aloud 22
and turns away in shame. 23
ט (Tet)
1:9 Her menstrual flow 24 has soiled 25 her clothing; 26
she did not consider 27 the consequences of her sin. 28
Her demise 29 was astonishing, 30
and there was no one to comfort her.
She cried, “Look, 31 O Lord, on my 32 affliction
because my 33 enemy boasts!”
י (Yod)
1:10 An enemy grabbed 34
all her valuables. 35
Indeed she watched in horror 36 as Gentiles 37
invaded her holy temple 38 –
those whom you 39 had commanded:
“They must not enter 40 your assembly place.” 41
כ (Kaf)
1:11 All her people groaned
as they searched for a morsel of bread. 42
They exchanged 43 their valuables 44
for 45 just enough food
to stay alive. 46
“Look, O Lord! Consider 47
that I have become worthless!”
ל (Lamed)
1:12 Is it nothing to you, 48 all you who pass by on the road? 49
Look and see!
Is there any pain like mine?
The Lord 50 has afflicted me, 51
he 52 has inflicted it on me
when 53 he burned with anger. 54
מ (Mem)
1:13 He sent down fire 55
into my bones, and it overcame 56 them.
He spread out a trapper’s net 57 for my feet;
he made me turn back.
He has made me desolate;
I am faint all day long.
נ (Nun)
1:14 My sins are bound around my neck like a yoke; 58
they are fastened together by his hand.
He has placed his yoke 59 on my neck; 60
he has sapped my strength. 61
The Lord 62 has handed me over 63
to those whom I cannot resist.
ס (Samek)
1:15 He rounded up 64 all my mighty ones; 65
The Lord 66 did this 67 in 68 my midst.
He summoned an assembly 69 against me
to shatter my young men.
The Lord has stomped like grapes 70
the virgin daughter, Judah. 71
ע (Ayin)
1:16 I weep because of these things;
my eyes 72 flow with tears. 73
For there is no one in sight who can comfort me 74
or encourage me. 75
My children 76 are desolated 77
because an enemy has prevailed.
פ (Pe)
1:17 Zion spread out her hands,
but there is no one to comfort her.
The Lord has issued a decree against Jacob;
his neighbors 78 have become his enemies.
Jerusalem has become
like filthy garbage 79 in their midst. 80
צ (Tsade)
1:18 The Lord is right to judge me! 81
Yes, I rebelled against his commands. 82
Please listen, all you nations, 83
and look at my suffering!
My young women and men
have gone into exile.
ק (Qof)
1:19 I called for my lovers, 84
but they had deceived me.
My priests and my elders
perished in the city.
Truly they had 85 searched for food
to 86 keep themselves 87 alive. 88
ר (Resh)
1:20 Look, O Lord! I am distressed; 89
my stomach is in knots! 90
My heart is pounding 91 inside me.
Yes, I was terribly rebellious! 92
Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children; 93
Inside the house death is present. 94
ש (Sin/Shin)
1:21 They have heard 95 that I groan,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that you 96 have brought it about. 97
Bring about 98 the day of judgment 99 that you promised 100
so that 101 they may end up 102 like me!
ת (Tav)
1:22 Let all their wickedness come before you;
afflict 103 them
just as you have afflicted 104 me 105
because of all my acts of rebellion. 106
For my groans are many,
and my heart is sick with sorrow. 107