Berean Standard Bible

Lamentations 2:11-22

11My eyes fail from weeping; I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief over the destruction of the daughter of my people, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.

12They cry out to their mothers:“Where is the grain and wine?”as they faint like the woundedin the streets of the city,as their lives fade awayin the arms of their mothers.

13What can I say for you?To what can I compare you,O Daughter of Jerusalem?To what can I liken you,that I may console you,O Virgin Daughter of Zion?For your wound is as deep as the sea.Who can ever heal you?

14The visions of your prophetswere empty and deceptive;they did not expose your guiltto ward off your captivity.The burdens they envisioned for youwere empty and misleading.

15All who pass byclap their hands at you in scorn.They hiss and shake their headsat the Daughter of Jerusalem:“Is this the city that was calledthe perfection of beauty,the joy of all the earth?”

16All your enemiesopen their mouths against you.They hiss and gnash their teeth,saying, “We have swallowed her up.This is the day for which we have waited.We have lived to see it!”

17The LORD has done what He planned;He has accomplished His decree,which He ordained in days of old;He has overthrown you without pity.He has let the enemy gloat over youand exalted the horn1 of your foes.

18The hearts of the peoplecry out to the Lord.2O wall of the Daughter of Zion,let your tears run down like a riverday and night.Give yourself no relief,and your eyes no rest.

19Arise, cry out in the nightfrom the first watch of the night.3Pour out your heart like waterin the presence of the Lord.Lift up your hands to Himfor the lives of your childrenwho are fainting from hungeron the corner of every street.

20Look, O LORD, and consider:Whom have You ever treated like this?Should women eat their offspring,the infants they have nurtured?Should priests and prophets be killedin the sanctuary of the Lord?

21Both young and old lie togetherin the dust of the streets.My young men and maidenshave fallen by the sword.You have slain them in the day of Your anger;You have slaughtered them without compassion.

22You summoned my terrors on every side,as for the day of an appointed feast.In the day of the LORD’s angerno one escaped or survived;my enemy has destroyedthose I nurtured and reared.

Read all of Lamentations 2

Notes

1. Lamentations 2:17 Or the strength ↩
2. Lamentations 2:18 Literally Their heart cries out to the Lord. ↩
3. Lamentations 2:19 That is, between six and nine at night ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Lamentations 2