Zionstretchesout her hands;Thereis nooneto comforther; The LORDhas commandedconcerning JacobThat the ones roundabouthim should be his adversaries;Jerusalemhas becomean uncleanthingamongthem.
Then Solomonstoodbeforethe altarof the LORDin the presenceof allthe assemblyof Israeland spreadout his handstoward heaven.
whateverprayeror supplicationis madeby anyman[or] by allYour peopleIsrael,eachknowingthe afflictionof his own heart,and spreadinghis handstowardthishouse;
Now in the ninthyearof his reign,on the tenthday of the tenthmonth,Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babyloncame,he and allhis army,againstJerusalem,campedagainstit and builta siegewallallaroundit.
Then I lookedagainat allthe actsof oppressionwhichwere being doneunderthe sun.And behold[I saw] the tearsof the oppressedand [that] they hadnooneto comfort[them]; and on the sideof their oppressorswas power,but they hadnooneto comfort[them].
"So when you spreadout your hands[in prayer], I will hideMy eyesfrom you; Yes,eventhoughyou multiplyprayers,I will not listen.Your handsare coveredwith blood.
"O afflictedone,storm-tossed,[and] not comforted,Behold,I will setyour stonesin antimony,And your foundationsI will layin sapphires.
"Is My inheritancelike a speckledbirdof preyto Me? Are the birdsof preyagainsther on everyside?Go,gatherallthe beastsof the field,Bringthem to devour!
"Indeed,whowill havepityon you, O Jerusalem,Or whowill mournfor you, Or whowill turnasideto askabout your welfare?
"Both greatmenand smallwill diein thisland;they will not be buried,they will not be lamented,norwill anyone gashhimself or shavehis headfor them.
Behold,I am going to command,'declaresthe LORD,'and I will bringthem backto thiscity;and they will fightagainstit and takeit and burnit with fire;and I will makethe citiesof Judaha desolationwithoutinhabitant.'"
For I hearda cryas of a woman in labor,The anguishas of one givingbirthto her firstchild,The cryof the daughterof Ziongaspingfor breath,Stretchingout her hands,[saying], "Ah,woeis me, for I faintbefore murderers."
"Shepherdsand their flockswill cometo her, They will pitch[their] tentsaroundher, They will pastureeachin his place.
My sorrowis beyond healing,My heartis faint[within me]!
"For thesethingsI weep;My eyesrundownwith water;Becausefarfrom me is a comforter,One who restoresmy soul.My childrenare desolateBecausethe enemyhas prevailed."
"I calledto my lovers,[but] they deceivedme; My priestsand my eldersperishedin the cityWhilethey soughtfoodto restoretheir strengththemselves.
She weepsbitterlyin the nightAnd her tearsare on her cheeks;She hasnoneto comforther Amongallher lovers.Allher friendshave dealttreacherouslywith her; They have becomeher enemies.
"They have heardthat I groan;Thereis nooneto comfortme; Allmy enemieshave heardof my calamity;They are gladthat You have done[it]. Oh, that You would bringthe daywhich You have proclaimed,That they may becomelikeme.
Jerusalemsinnedgreatly,Thereforeshe has becomean uncleanthing.Allwho honoredher despiseher Becausethey have seenher nakedness;Evenshe herselfgroansand turnsaway.
Her uncleannesswas in her skirts;She did not considerher future.Therefore she has fallenastonishingly;She hasnocomforter."See,O LORD,my affliction,For the enemyhas magnifiedhimself!"
"Depart!Unclean!"they criedof themselves. "Depart,depart,do not touch!"Sothey fledand wandered;[Men] among the nationssaid,"They shall not continueto dwell[with us]."
"Sonof man,when the houseof Israelwas livingin their own land,they defiledit by their waysand their deeds;their waybeforeMe was like the uncleannessof a woman in her impurity.
Israelis swallowedup; They are nowamong the nationsLike a vesselin which noonedelights.
