Berean Standard Bible

Lamentations 1:1-11

1How1 lonely lies the city,once so full of people!She who was great among the nationshas become a widow.The princess of the provinceshas become a slave.

2She weeps aloud in the night,with tears upon her cheeks.Among all her loversthere is no one to comfort her.All her friends have betrayed her;they have become her enemies.

3Judah has gone into exileunder affliction and harsh slavery;she dwells among the nationsbut finds no place to rest.All her pursuers have overtaken herin the midst of her distress.

4The roads to Zion mourn,because no one comes to her appointed feasts.All her gates are deserted;her priests groan,her maidens grieve,and she herself is bitter with anguish.

5Her foes have become her masters;her enemies are at ease.For the LORD has brought her griefbecause of her many transgressions.Her children have gone awayas captives before the enemy.

6All the splendor has departedfrom the Daughter of Zion.Her princes are like deerthat find no pasture;they lack the strength to fleein the face of the hunter.

7In the days of her affliction and wanderingJerusalem remembers all the treasuresthat were hers in days of old.When her people fell into enemy handsshe received no help.Her enemies looked upon her,laughing at her downfall.

8Jerusalem has sinned greatly;therefore she has become an object of scorn.All who honored her now despise her,for they have seen her nakedness;2she herself groans and turns away.

9Her uncleanness stains her skirts;she did not consider her end.Her downfall was astounding;there was no one to comfort her.Look, O LORD, on my affliction,for the enemy has triumphed!

10The adversary has seizedall her treasures.For she has seen the nationsenter her sanctuary—those You had forbiddento enter Your assembly.

11All her people groanas they search for bread.They have traded their treasures for foodto keep themselves alive.Look, O LORD, and consider,for I have become despised.

Read all of Lamentations 1

Notes

1. Lamentations 1:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. ↩
2. Lamentations 1:8 Or her shame ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Lamentations 1