Howlonelysitsthe cityThat was fullof people!She has becomelike a widowWhowas [once] greatamong the nations!She who was a princessamong the provincesHas becomea forcedlaborer!
Now Solomonruledover allthe kingdomsfrom the River[to] the landof the Philistinesand to the borderof Egypt;[they] broughttributeand servedSolomonallthe daysof his life.
PharaohNecoimprisonedhim at Riblahin the landof Hamath,that he might not reignin Jerusalem;and he imposedon the landa fineof one hundredtalentsof silverand a talentof gold.
So Jehoiakimgavethe silverand goldto Pharaoh,but he taxedthe landin order to givethe moneyat the commandof Pharaoh.He exactedthe silverand goldfrom the peopleof the land,eachaccording to his valuation,to giveit to PharaohNeco.
He was the rulerover allthe kingsfrom the EuphratesRivereven to the landof the Philistines,and as faras the borderof Egypt.
that mightykingshave ruledoverJerusalem,governingall[the provinces] beyondthe River,and that tribute,customand tollwere paidto them.
Also therewere those whosaid,"We have borrowedmoneyfor the king'stax[on] our fieldsand our vineyards.
"Its abundantproduceis for the kingsWhomYou have setoverus because of our sins;They also ruleoverour bodiesAnd over our cattleas they please,So we are in greatdistress.
To whichthe tribesgoup, even the tribesof the LORD--An ordinancefor Israel--To givethanksto the nameof the LORD.
"Howyou have fallenfrom heaven,O starof the morning,sonof the dawn!You have been cutdownto the earth,You who have weakenedthe nations!
You whowere fullof noise,You boisteroustown,you exultantcity;Your slainwere not slainwith the sword,Nordid they diein battle.
And her gateswill lamentand mourn,And desertedshe will siton the ground.
"Then you will sayin your heart,'Whohas begottenthesefor me, Since I have beenbereavedof my childrenAnd am barren,an exileand a wanderer?And whohas rearedthese?Behold,I was leftalone;From wheredid thesecome?'"
The LordGODhas openedMy ear;And I was not disobedientNordid I turnback.
Shakeyourself from the dust,riseup, O captiveJerusalem;Looseyourself from the chainsaround your neck,O captivedaughterof Zion.
Howlovelyon the mountainsAre the feetof him who bringsgood news,Who announcespeaceAnd bringsgood newsof happiness,Who announcessalvation,[And] saysto Zion,"Your Godreigns!"
"Fearnot, for you will not be putto shame;And do not feelhumiliated,for you will not be disgraced;But you will forgetthe shameof your youth,And the reproachof your widowhoodyou will remembernomore.
For thussaysthe LORD,"Singaloudwith gladnessfor Jacob,And shoutamong the chiefof the nations;Proclaim,givepraiseand say,'O LORD,saveYour people,The remnantof Israel.'
Then Gedaliahthe sonof Ahikam,the sonof Shaphan,sworeto them and to their men,saying,"Do not be afraidof servingthe Chaldeans;stayin the landand servethe kingof Babylon,that it may gowellwith you.
and saidto Jeremiahthe prophet,"Pleaselet our petitioncomebeforeyou, and prayfor us to the LORDyour God,[that is] for allthisremnant;becausewe are left[but] a fewout of many,as your own eyes[now] seeus,
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'You yourselveshave seenallthe calamitythat I have broughton Jerusalemand allthe citiesof Judah;and behold,thisdaythey are in ruinsand noonelivesin them,
Therefore My wrathand My angerwere pouredout and burnedin the citiesof Judahand in the streetsof Jerusalem,so they havebecomea ruinand a desolationas it is thisday.
"Howthe hammerof the wholeearthHas been cutoffand broken!HowBabylonhas becomeAn objectof horroramong the nations!
"I will makeJerusalema heapof ruins, A hauntof jackals;And I will makethe citiesof Judaha desolation,withoutinhabitant."
"I calledto my lovers,[but] they deceivedme; My priestsand my eldersperishedin the cityWhilethey soughtfoodto restoretheir strengththemselves.
Howthe Lordhas coveredthe daughterof ZionWith a cloudin His anger!He has castfrom heavento earthThe gloryof Israel,And has not rememberedHis footstoolIn the dayof His anger.
The eldersof the daughterof ZionSiton the ground,they are silent.They have thrownduston their heads;They have girdedthemselves with sackcloth.The virginsof JerusalemHave bowedtheir headsto the ground.
Howdarkthe goldhas become,[How] the puregoldhas changed!The sacredstonesare pouredout At the cornerof everystreet.
The crownhas fallenfrom our head;Woeto us, for we have sinned!
"Then allthe princesof the seawill godownfrom their thrones,removetheir robesand stripofftheir embroideredgarments.They will clothethemselves with trembling;they will siton the ground,trembleevery momentand be appalledat you.
"Sonof man,becauseTyrehas saidconcerningJerusalem,'Aha,the gatewayof the peoplesis broken;it has openedto me. I shall be filled,[now that] she is laidwaste,'
"Thussaysthe LordGOD,'Thisis Jerusalem;I have sether at the centerof the nations,with landsaroundher.
I will laywasteyour citiesas well and will makeyour sanctuariesdesolate,and I will not smellyour soothingaromas.
You, however, I will scatteramong the nationsand will drawout a swordafteryou, as your landbecomesdesolateand your citiesbecomewaste.
Thisis the exultantcityWhich dwellssecurely,Who saysin her heart,"I am, and thereis noonebesidesme." Howshe has becomea desolation,A restingplacefor beasts!Everyonewho passesby her will hiss[And] wavehis hand[in contempt].
"To the degreethat she glorifiedherselfand lived sensuously,to the same degreegiveher tormentand mourning;for she saysin her heart,I SIT[as] A QUEENAND I AMNOT A WIDOW,and will neverseemourning.'
