"See,O LORD,for I am in distress;My spiritis greatlytroubled;My heartis overturnedwithinme, For I have been veryrebellious.In the streetthe swordslays;In the houseit is like death.
My eyesfailbecause of tears,My spiritis greatlytroubled;My heartis pouredout on the earthBecauseof the destructionof the daughterof my people,When littleonesand infantsfaintIn the streetsof the city.
The swordis outsideand the plagueand the famineare within.He whois in the fieldwill dieby the sword;famineand the plaguewill also consumethose in the city.
Thereforemy heartintoneslike a harpfor MoabAnd my inwardfeelingsfor Kir-hareseth.
Outsidethe swordwill bereave,And insideterror--Bothyoungmanand virgin,The nurslingwith the manof grayhair.
My soul,my soul!I am in anguish!Oh,my heart!My heartis poundingin me; I cannotbe silent,Becauseyou have heard,O my soul,The soundof the trumpet,The alarmof war.
"I am seethingwithinand cannotrelax;Daysof afflictionconfrontme.
I heardand my inwardpartstrembled,At the soundmy lipsquivered.Decayentersmy bones,And in my placeI tremble.BecauseI must waitquietlyfor the dayof distress,For the peopleto arise[who] will invadeus.
Howcan I giveyou up, O Ephraim?How can I surrenderyou, O Israel?Howcan I makeyou like Admah?How can I treatyou like Zeboiim?My heartis turnedoverwithinMe, AllMy compassionsare kindled.
"The LORDis righteous;For I have rebelledagainstHis command;Hearnow,allpeoples,And beholdmy pain;My virginsand my youngmenHave goneinto captivity.
Allher peoplegroanseekingbread;They have giventheir preciousthingsfor foodTo restoretheir livesthemselves. "See,O LORD,and look,For I amdespised."
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!"
"ThereforeMy heartwailsfor Moablike flutes;My heartalso wailslike flutesfor the menof Kir-heres.Thereforethey have lostthe abundanceit produced.
"Is EphraimMy dearson?Is he a delightfulchild?Indeed,as oftenas I have spokenagainst him, I certainly[still] rememberhim; ThereforeMy heartyearnsfor him; I will surelyhavemercyon him," declaresthe LORD.
IfI goout to the country,Behold,those slainwith the sword!Or ifI enterthe city,Behold,diseasesof famine!For bothprophetand priestHave gone rovingaboutin the landthat they do not know.'"
Onlyacknowledgeyour iniquity,That you have transgressedagainst the LORDyour GodAnd have scatteredyour favorsto the strangersundereverygreentree,And you have not obeyedMy voice,'declaresthe LORD.
Yet you said,'I am innocent;SurelyHis angeris turnedawayfrom me.' Behold,I will enterinto judgmentwith you Becauseyou say,'I have not sinned.'
"Like a swallow,[like] a crane,soI twitter;I moanlike a dove;My eyeslookwistfullyto the heights;O Lord,I am oppressed,be my security.
He who concealshis transgressionswill not prosper,But he who confessesand forsakes[them] will findcompassion.
I am pouredout like water,And allmy bonesare out of joint;My heartis like wax;It is meltedwithinme.
"He will singto menand say,I have sinnedand pervertedwhatis right,And it is not properfor me.
I am benumbedand badlycrushed;I groanbecauseof the agitationof my heart.
We knowour wickedness,O LORD,The iniquityof our fathers,for we have sinnedagainst You.
Jerusalemsinnedgreatly,Thereforeshe has becomean uncleanthing.Allwho honoredher despiseher Becausethey have seenher nakedness;Evenshe herselfgroansand turnsaway.
we have sinned,committediniquity,actedwickedlyand rebelled,even turningasidefrom Your commandmentsand ordinances.
The crownhas fallenfrom our head;Woeto us, for we have sinned!
