When I sin, I am guilty\par and it will be very bad for me.\par But I can’t lift up my head\par even when I am innocent!\par I am so ashamed and embarrassed.\par
My heart breaks as I remember\par \{the good times I had at the temple\}:\par \{I remember\} passing through the crowds\par as I led them all up to God’s temple.\par \{I remember\} the happy songs of praise\par as the crowds celebrated the festivals.\par
From the mouths of children and babies\par come songs of praise to you.\par You gave them \{these powerful songs\}\par to silence all your enemies.\par
The enemy is finished!\par Lord, you destroyed their cities!\par Now, only ruined buildings are left.\par Nothing is left to remind us\par of those bad people.\par
I don’t understand why I still hurt.\par I don’t understand why my wound\par is not cured and cannot be healed.\par Lord, I think you have changed.\par You are like a spring of water\par that became dry.\par You are like a spring\par whose water has stopped flowing.\par
‘Baruch, you have said: It is very bad for me. The Lord has given me sorrow along with my pain. I am very tired. I am worn out because of my suffering. I can’t find rest.’
Jerusalem’s enemies have won.\par Her enemies have been successful.\par This happened because the Lord\par punished her.\par He punished Jerusalem for her many sins.\par Her children have gone away.\par Their enemies captured them\par and took them away.\par
Jerusalem’s skirts became dirty.\par She didn’t think about the things\par that would happen to her.\par Her fall was amazing.\par She had no person to comfort her.\par She says,\par “Lord, see how I am hurt!\par See how my enemy thinks he is so great!”\par
I was with you every day in the temple {\cf2\super [363]} area. Why didn’t you try to arrest me there? But this is your time—the time when darkness (sin) rules.”
{This shows I am not your enemy.} A man doesn’t catch his enemy, and then just let him go! He doesn’t do good things for his enemy. I hope the Lord rewards you for being good to me today.