Lamentations 1

1 How lonely [desolate, in isolation] lies the city [once full of people, a thriving metropolis], once so full of people [a multitude, a great nation]! She who was great [a leader, prominent] among the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrew countries] has become a widow [bereaved, without a protector]. The princess [a female noble, lady] of the provinces [regions, districts] has become a slave [taskworker, forced laborer, tributary]. word study 2 She weeps [sorrowfully, with bitter tears] aloud in the night [a time of darkness and adversity], with tears [drops of liquid that fall from the eyes as a result of crying or weeping] upon her cheeks [the jaw or cheek, often referring to the jawbone of an animal]. Among all her lovers [those who have affection for her, including family, romance, or nations] there is no one [nothing, an absence of something] to comfort [show pity or sympathy] her. All her friends [neighbors, companions, or fellow citizens] have betrayed [acted treacherously, been deceitful or unfaithful] her; they have become [come to be, exist as] her enemies [those who hate or oppose her]. word study 3 Judah [the tribe of Judah] has gone into exile [been taken captive, forcibly relocated] under affliction [suffering, trouble] and harsh slavery [brutal bondage, great servitude]; she dwells [resides, remains] among the nations [Gentiles, heathen] but finds [discovers, attains] no place to rest [no resting place, no peace]. All [every] her pursuers [those who chase her] have overtaken [caught up to, reached] her in the midst [between] of her distress [trouble, terror]. word study 4 The roads [ways, paths] to Zion [the mountain, the city of God] mourn [are in lament, grieving], because no one comes [attends, travels] to her appointed feasts [solemn assemblies, sacred festivals]. All her gates [city entrances, doors] are deserted [desolate, empty]; her priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] groan [sigh, mourn], her maidens [virgins, young women] grieve [are afflicted, suffer], and she herself is bitter [filled with sorrow, in anguish] with anguish. word study 5 Her foes [adversaries, enemies] have become her masters [chief, head]; her enemies [haters, adversaries] are at ease [prosper, secure]. For the LORD [Yehovah, God] has brought her grief [sorrow, affliction] because of her many [abundance of] transgressions [sins, rebellions]. Her children [young ones, infants] have gone away as captives [prisoners, exiles] before the enemy [adversary, oppressor]. word study 6 All the splendor [glory, majesty, beauty] has departed from the Daughter [female child, city] of Zion [Jerusalem, God’s holy mountain]. Her princes [rulers, leaders] are like deer [harts, male deer] that find no pasture [food, grazing land]; they lack the strength [power, might] to flee in the face [presence, sight] of the hunter [pursuer, attacker]. word study 7 In the days [of old, from the beginning] of her affliction [misery, trouble] and wandering [being lost, without a home] Jerusalem remembers [calls to mind, thinks about] all the treasures [pleasant things, desirable items] that were hers in days of old [past times, former days]. When her people [nation, community] fell into enemy [adversary, opposing] hands she received no help [assistance, aid]. Her enemies [adversaries, those against her] looked upon her, laughing [mocking, scoffing] at her downfall [destruction, desolation]. word study 8 Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine] has sinned [committed a grave offense, missed the mark] greatly; therefore she has become [been regarded as] an object of scorn [filth, something unclean]. All who honored [esteemed, valued highly] her now despise [lavish contempt upon, scorn] her, for they have seen [looked upon, gazed at] her nakedness [shame, exposure]; she herself [the city, its people] groans [sighs, mourns in pain] and turns away [returns, turns backward]. word study 9 Her uncleanness [moral impurity, filthy condition] stains her skirts [the hem of her robe]; she did not consider [remember, think about] her end [final destiny, last days]. Her downfall [collapse, failure] was astounding [wonderful, a marvel]; there was no one [nothing, none] to comfort her [show pity, sympathize with]. Look [see, behold], O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], on my affliction [suffering, distress], for the enemy [adversary, opponent] has triumphed [magnified himself, become great]! word study 10 The adversary [enemy, opponent] has seized [stretched out his hand, taken control] all her treasures [desirable things, pleasant possessions]. For she has seen [looked upon, witnessed] the nations [Gentiles, heathen] enter [come into, invade] her sanctuary [holy place, temple]— those You had forbidden [commanded not to, prohibited] to enter [come into, join] Your assembly [congregation, gathering]. word study 11 All [every single one, the entire population] her people groan [sigh, mourn, express deep emotional distress] as they search [seek, look for, endeavor to find] for bread [food, nourishment, sustenance]. They have traded [exchanged, given up, sacrificed] their treasures [valuable possessions, precious things, desirable items] for food [nourishment, sustenance] to keep themselves alive [to remain living, to survive, to stay alive]. Look [see, behold, regard], O LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], and consider [think about, reflect on, ponder], for I have become [been made, been rendered] despised [vile, worthless, morally loose]. word study 12 Is this nothing [a matter of no concern] to you, all you who pass [journey on] by? Look around [attentively, with careful observation] and see! Is there any [deep emotional pain, sorrow like mine] sorrow like mine, which was inflicted [brought upon, caused to suffer] on me, which the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] made me suffer [caused me to experience grief, afflicted me] on the day [a period of time, a moment of judgment] of His fierce [burning, intense] anger [wrath, righteous indignation]? word study 13 He sent [from heaven above, from on high] fire [burning, flame] from on high, and it overpowered [prevailed against, subdued] my bones. He spread [stretched out, laid] a net [a network] for my feet [the foot, the leg] and turned me back [caused me to return, reversed my direction] [to a state of desolation]. He made me desolate [wasted, ruined, left empty], faint [sick, unwell, weak] all the day [every day, daily, continually] long. word study 14 My transgressions [rebellious sins, revolts against God] are bound [tied, fastened] into a yoke [a wooden beam, a burden], knit [intertwined, wrapped] together by His hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share]; they are draped [placed, laid] over my neck, and the Lord [Adonay, the supreme Ruler] has broken [caused to fail, weakened] my strength [power, might]. He has delivered [given, handed over] me into the hands [power, control] of those I cannot [am not able, lack the power to] withstand [rise up against, resist]. word study 15 The Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] has rejected [set at nought, weighed and found wanting] all the mighty men [strong warriors, valiant ones] in my midst [in the inner part of me, among my people]; He has summoned [called, proclaimed] an army [a solemn assembly, a gathering] against me to crush [break, shatter] my young warriors [chosen youth, select young men]. Like grapes [as in a winepress, in a pit to make wine] in a winepress, the Lord has trampled [tread, trodden under foot] the Virgin Daughter [the pure and untouched one, the bride] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the region of Judah]. word study 16 For these things [because of these circumstances] I weep [mourn, lament]; my eyes [the source of my tears] flow with tears [water]. For there is no one nearby [close at hand, within reach] to comfort me [to relieve my soul, bring solace], no one to revive [restore, refresh] my soul [my inner being, my very life]. My children [sons, descendants] are destitute [desolate, without hope] because the enemy [adversary, one who opposes] has prevailed [gained the upper hand, become strong]. word study 17 Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem] stretches out her hands [in distress, for help], but there is no one to comfort [show pity, sympathize with] her. The LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] has decreed [commanded, appointed] against Jacob [the people of Israel] that his neighbors [those around him, his enemies] become his foes [adversaries, those against him]. Jerusalem [the city of peace] has become an unclean thing [like a menstruous woman, impure] among them [in their sight, to them]. word study 18 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is righteous [just, upright], for I have rebelled [resisted, disobeyed] against His command [instruction, law]. Listen [hear, obey], all you people [nations, Amaw]; look upon [see, behold] my suffering [pain, sorrow]. My young men [youth, chosen ones] and maidens [virgins, untouched ones] have gone into captivity [exile, bondage]. word study 19 I called out [to my allies, pleaded with] to my lovers [those I trusted, my friends], but they have [deceived] betrayed me. My priests [spiritual leaders, those who serve God] and elders [respected leaders, older men] perished [died, gave up the ghost] in the city [the town, the urban center] while they searched [sought, looked] for food [nourishment, sustenance] to keep themselves alive [to relieve their souls, to survive]. word study 20 See, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], how distressed [in trouble, deeply moved] I am! I am churning [troubled, agitated] within; my heart [the seat of emotions, will, and intellect] is pounding [turned over, overturned] within me, for I have been most rebellious [resisted authority, disobeyed]. Outside [in the streets, beyond the wall], the sword [a cutting instrument, a tool for war] bereaves [kills, destroys]; inside [at home, in the house], there is death [a state of separation, barrenness]. word study 21 People have heard my groaning [sighing, mourning], but there is no one to comfort [show pity or sympathy to] me. All my enemies [those who hate or oppose me] have heard of my trouble [calamity, bad situation]; they are glad [rejoice, feel joyful] that You [the Lord] have caused [done, made] it. May You bring [cause to come, introduce] the day [time, period] You have announced [proclaimed, called], so that they may become like [similar to, comparable with] me. word study 22 Let all [everything, the entirety of] their wickedness [evil, moral harm] come before You [into Your presence, face to face], and deal with them [treat, punish] as You have dealt with me [as You have treated me, in like manner] because of all [every one of] my transgressions [rebellions, sins]. For my groans [sighs, lamentations] are many [numerous, abundant], and my heart [inner being, spirit] is faint [weak, troubled]. word study