By the riversof Babylon,Therewe satdownand wept,When we rememberedZion.
Then I proclaimeda fastthereat the riverof Ahava,that we might humbleourselves beforeour Godto seekfrom Him a safejourneyfor us, our littleones,and allour possessions.
Then we journeyedfrom the riverAhavaon the twelfthof the firstmonthto goto Jerusalem;and the handof our Godwas overus, and He deliveredus from the handof the enemyand the ambushesby the way.
I saidto the king,"Let the kingliveforever.Whyshould my facenot be sadwhenthe city,the placeof my fathers'tombs,lies desolateand its gateshave been consumedby fire?"
ThesethingsI rememberand I pourout my soulwithinme. For I used to goalongwith the throng[and] leadthem in processionto the houseof God,With the voiceof joyand thanksgiving,a multitudekeepingfestival.
"Be joyfulwith Jerusalemand rejoicefor her, allyou who loveher; Be exceedinglygladwith her, allyou who mournoverher,
"Takethe waistbandthat you have bought,whichis aroundyour waist,and arise,goto the Euphratesand hideit therein a creviceof the rock."
I did not sitin the circleof merrymakers,Nordid I exult.Becauseof Your hand[upon me] I satalone,For You filledme with indignation.
O you who dwellby manywaters,Abundantin treasures,Your endhas come,The measureof your end.
Behold,listen!The cryof the daughterof my peoplefrom a distantland:"Is the LORDnot in Zion?Is her Kingnot within her?" "Whyhave they provokedMe with their gravenimages,with foreignidols?"
"For thesethingsI weep;My eyesrundownwith water;Becausefarfrom me is a comforter,One who restoresmy soul.My childrenare desolateBecausethe enemyhas prevailed."
Their heartcriedout to the Lord,"O wallof the daughterof Zion,Let [your] tearsrundownlike a riverdayand night;Giveyourself norelief,Let your eyeshavenorest.
My eyesrundownwith streamsof waterBecauseof the destructionof the daughterof my people.
My eyesbringpainto my soulBecauseof allthe daughtersof my city.
Now it cameabout in the thirtiethyear,on the fifth[day] of the fourthmonth,while I was by the riverChebaramongthe exiles,the heavenswere openedand I sawvisionsof God.
the wordof the LORDcameexpresslyto Ezekielthe priest,sonof Buzi,in the landof the Chaldeansby the riverChebar;and therethe handof the LORDcameupon him.)
Then I cameto the exileswho livedbesidethe riverChebarat Tel-abib,and I sattheresevendayswherethey were living,causingconsternationamongthem.
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
WhenHe approached[Jerusalem], He sawthe cityand weptoverit,
"And I will grant[authority] to my twowitnesses,and they will prophesyfor twelvehundredand sixtydays,clothedin sackcloth."
