Lamentations 2

1 How the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] has covered [to becloud, with a dark cloud] the Daughter [a female child, a city personified as a woman] of Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, God’s holy city] with the cloud [a cloud of darkness] of His anger [wrath]! He has cast [thrown down, from heaven to earth] the glory [beauty, honor, or splendor] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] from heaven [the sky, the abode of God] to earth [the land, the material world]. He has abandoned [left, or forgotten] His footstool [a low stool] in the day [a period of time, a season of judgment] of His anger [wrath]. word study 2 Without pity [showing no mercy or compassion] the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] has swallowed up [completely destroyed, consumed] all the dwellings [habitations, homes] of Jacob [the people of Israel]. In His wrath [fury, intense anger] He has demolished [overthrown, torn down] the fortified cities [strongholds, fortresses] of the Daughter of Judah [the tribe of Judah, the people of God]. He brought to the ground [laid low, humbled] and defiled [profaned, polluted] her kingdom [domain, territory] and its princes [rulers, leaders]. word study 3 In fierce [intense, burning] anger He has cut off [destroyed, severed] every horn [a horn; a hill or peak] of Israel and withdrawn [turned back, drawn back] His right hand [the right hand or side; the south] at the approach [presence, face] of the enemy [adversary, opponent]. He has burned [kindled, ignited] in Jacob [Israel, the chosen people] like a flaming [blazing, raging] fire [burning, flame] that consumes [devours, eats] everything around [surrounding, encompassing] it. word study 4 He has bent His bow [like a warrior, as an adversary] like an enemy [a foe, an adversary]; His right hand [the hand of power, of strength] is positioned [stretched out, ready to strike]. Like a foe [an adversary, one who opposes] He has killed [slain, destroyed] all who were pleasing [desirable, lovely] to the eye [the gaze, the sight]; He has poured out [shed, spilled] His wrath [anger, fury] like fire [a refining flame, a consuming passion] on the tent [the tabernacle, the dwelling place] of the Daughter [the child, the beloved] of Zion [the city of God, the holy mountain]. word study 5 The Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] is like an enemy [opponent, adversary]; He has swallowed up [consumed, destroyed] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants]. He has swallowed up [devoured, eaten up] all her palaces [citadels, strongholds] and destroyed [ruined, torn down] her strongholds [fortifications, fortified places]. He has multiplied [increased, grown] mourning [sorrow, grief] and lamentation [deep sadness, sorrow] for the Daughter [Bath, a female child or woman] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob]. word study 6 He has laid waste [completely destroyed, violently taken away] His tabernacle [sacred dwelling place] like a garden [enclosed area] booth; He has destroyed [ruined, shattered] His place of meeting [appointed time, sacred assembly]. The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has made Zion [the mountain in Jerusalem] forget [be oblivious to, mislay] her appointed feasts [sacred festivals, solemn assemblies] and Sabbaths [days of rest and worship]. In His fierce [intense, burning] anger [indignation, nose, countenance] He has despised [spurned, shown contempt] both king [royal person, ruler] and priest [one who serves God, leads in worship]. word study 7 The Lord [the supreme God] has rejected [cast off, abandoned] His altar [place of sacrifice]; He has abandoned [disowned, spurned] His sanctuary [holy place, temple]; He has delivered [given up, surrendered] the walls [fortifications, defenses] of her palaces [citadels, strongholds] into the hand [power, control] of the enemy [adversary, opponent]. They have raised a shout [made a noise, cried out] in the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah] as on the day [appointed time, festival] of an appointed feast [solemn assembly, sacred meeting]. word study 8 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] determined [devised, to think or plan something] to destroy [to ruin, bring to nothing] the wall [a strong wall of protection] of the Daughter [a female child or a woman, used figuratively] of Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city]. He stretched out [to stretch or spread out] a measuring line [a cord or line, used for measuring] and did not withdraw [to return or turn back] His hand [an open hand] from destroying [to swallow up, completely destroy]. He made the ramparts [a strong wall or fortress] and walls [a wall of protection] lament [to mourn, express sorrow]; together [in unity, as one] they waste away [to weaken, be weak]. word study 9 Her gates [have collapsed, sunk into the earth] have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed [broken, shattered] and shattered [broken apart] their bars [locks, bolts]. Her king [ruler, monarch] and her princes [leaders, nobles] are exiled [forced to go, banished] among the nations [Gentiles, foreign countries], the law [instruction, Torah] is no more [does not exist, has ceased], and even her prophets [spokesmen, messengers] find [discover, attain] no vision [revelation, divine guidance] from the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 10 The elders [old, elderly, or senior leaders] of the Daughter [figuratively, a female child or a woman] of Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city] sit on the ground [the soil or earth] in silence [to wail or mourn, often in response to a tragic event]. They have thrown dust [dry earth, or clay] on their heads [as a sign of mourning] and put on sackcloth [a coarse cloth or sack used for mourning]. The young women [virgins, or brides] of Jerusalem [the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace] have bowed their heads [as a sign of humility or sorrow] to the ground [the soil or earth]. word study 11 My eyes fail [fail with tears, are worn out from weeping] from weeping; I am [deeply troubled, churning] churning within. My heart [my inner being, emotions] is poured out [like a libation, completely emptied] in grief [sorrow, distress] over the destruction [breaking, devastation] of the daughter [female child, nation] of my people [my nation, community], because children [young ones, infants] and infants [babies, sucklings] faint [grow weak, swoon] in the streets [broad places, plazas] of the city [town, metropolis]. word study 12 They cry out to their mothers [female parents, caregivers]: “Where [in what location] is the grain [food, wheat] and wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage]?” as they faint [become weak, feel exhausted] like the wounded [slain, hurt] in the streets [public areas, plazas] of the city [town, urban area], as their lives [souls, living beings] fade away [are poured out, spilled] in the arms [bosom, chest area] of their mothers [maternal figures, nurturers]. word study 13 What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter [figurative, a female child or woman] of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console [show pity or sympathy, comfort] you, O Virgin [private and untouched, a bride] Daughter of Zion? For your wound [breaking, shattering, a physical or emotional hurt] is as deep as the sea [a large body of water]. Who [what person, which one] can ever heal [mend, cure, restore] you? word study 14 The visions [false and foolish things, empty and deceptive] of your prophets [those who speak for God, false spokespersons] were empty [vain, useless] and deceptive [misleading, frivolous]; they did not expose [reveal, uncover] your guilt [iniquity, moral evil] to ward off [turn back, prevent] your captivity [being held prisoner, exile]. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading. word study 15 All who pass by [travellers on the way, everyone passing through] clap their hands [in scorn, with contempt] at you in scorn [with disdain, in mockery]. They hiss [with scorn, in derision] and shake their heads [in dismay, with disgust] at the Daughter [the beloved child, the cherished one] of Jerusalem: “Is this the city [the great metropolis, the centre of worship] that was called [known as, renowned for] the perfection of beauty [the epitome of loveliness, the pinnacle of attractiveness], the joy [the delight, the pleasure] of all the earth [the whole world, all nations]?” word study 16 All your enemies [haters, adversaries] open their mouths [lips, edges] against you. They hiss [whistle, scorn] and gnash [grind, rub] their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up [destroyed, consumed] [completely, utterly]. This is the day [time, period] for which we have waited [looked for, anticipated] [patiently, expectantly]. We have lived to see it [found, attained] [with our own eyes, clearly]!” word study 17 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has done what He planned [devised, purposed]; He has accomplished His decree [word, warning], which He ordained [commanded, appointed] in days of old [from the very beginning, long ago]; He has overthrown [thrown down, destroyed] you without pity [mercy, sparing]. He has let the enemy [adversary, foe] gloat [rejoice, triumph] over you and exalted [lifted up, elevated] the horn [power, strength] of your foes [enemies, adversaries]. word study 18 The hearts [innermost being, seat of emotions] of the people cry out [with deep longing, to lament] to the Lord [Adonay, the reverenced God]. O wall [barrier, means of protection] of the Daughter [figurative] of Zion [the mountain, the city of God], let your tears [drops of sorrow, weeping] run down [flow, stream] like a river [brook, constant flow] day and night [daily, continually]. Give yourself [allow, permit] no relief [rest, cessation], and your eyes [source of sight] no rest [pause, intermission]. word study 19 Arise [get up, stand], cry out [shout, sing] in the night [period of darkness, adversity] from the first watch [beginning of the night, a time for prayer] of the night. Pour out [shed, empty] your heart [inner being, emotions] like water [a spring or watercourse] in the presence [before the face] of the Lord [Adonai, the sovereign God]. Lift up [raise, exalt] your hands [palms, a gesture of prayer] to Him [toward His presence] for the lives [souls, well-being] of your children [young ones, infants] who are fainting [feeling weak, overwhelmed] from hunger [lack of food, spiritual nourishment] on the corner [head, top] of every street [outside, public place]. word study 20 Look, O LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], and consider: Whom have You ever treated [abused, thrust upon] like this? Should women [female persons] eat their offspring [fruit, children of a span long], the infants [tenderly cared for] they have nurtured [in tender care, with loving hands]? Should priests [spiritual leaders] and prophets [messengers of God] be killed [slain, put to death] in the sanctuary [holy place] of the Lord [Adonai, the sovereign Lord]? word study 21 Both young [youth, from infancy to adolescence] and old [elderly, advanced in years] lie together in the dust [on the ground, in a state of humiliation] of the streets [outside, in the public places]. My young men [chosen, select individuals] and maidens [virgins, untouched and pure] have fallen [been defeated, slain] by the sword [a cutting instrument]. You have slain [killed, put to death] them in the day [a period of time, a moment of judgment] of Your anger [wrath]; You have slaughtered [killed ruthlessly, without pity] them without [not, lacking] compassion [pity, mercy]. word study 22 You summoned [invited, called to come] my attackers [enemies, those who terrorize] on every side, as for the day [time, appointed season] of an appointed feast [solemn assembly, sacred meeting]. In the day [time, period] of the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] anger [wrath] no one escaped [survived, remained] or survived [remained alive]; my enemy [adversary, one who hates] has destroyed [consumed, finished] those I nurtured [brought up, cared for] and reared [raised, multiplied]. word study