"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.
"I am seethingwithinand cannotrelax;Daysof afflictionconfrontme.
"He will singto menand say,I have sinnedand pervertedwhatis right,And it is not properfor me.
I am pouredout like water,And allmy bonesare out of joint;My heartis like wax;It is meltedwithinme.
I am benumbedand badlycrushed;I groanbecauseof the agitationof my heart.
He who concealshis transgressionswill not prosper,But he who confessesand forsakes[them] will findcompassion.
Thereforemy heartintoneslike a harpfor MoabAnd my inwardfeelingsfor Kir-hareseth.
"Like a swallow,[like] a crane,soI twitter;I moanlike a dove;My eyeslookwistfullyto the heights;O Lord,I am oppressed,be my security.
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.'"
We knowour wickedness,O LORD,The iniquityof our fathers,for we have sinnedagainst You.
Yet you said,'I am innocent;SurelyHis angeris turnedawayfrom me.' Behold,I will enterinto judgmentwith you Becauseyou say,'I have not sinned.'
Onlyacknowledgeyour iniquity,That you have transgressedagainst the LORDyour GodAnd have scatteredyour favorsto the strangersundereverygreentree,And you have not obeyedMy voice,'declaresthe LORD.
"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.
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.
"ThereforeMy heartwailsfor Moablike flutes;My heartalso wailslike flutesfor the menof Kir-heres.Thereforethey have lostthe abundanceit produced.
Allher peoplegroanseekingbread;They have giventheir preciousthingsfor foodTo restoretheir livesthemselves. "See,O LORD,and look,For I amdespised."
"The LORDis righteous;For I have rebelledagainstHis command;Hearnow,allpeoples,And beholdmy pain;My virginsand my youngmenHave goneinto captivity.
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!"
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 crownhas fallenfrom our head;Woeto us, for we have sinned!
The swordis outsideand the plagueand the famineare within.He whois in the fieldwill dieby the sword;famineand the plaguewill also consumethose in the city.
we have sinned,committediniquity,actedwickedlyand rebelled,even turningasidefrom Your commandmentsand ordinances.
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.
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.
Outsidethe swordwill bereave,And insideterror--Bothyoungmanand virgin,The nurslingwith the manof grayhair.
