Lamentations 2:1-4

1The Lord was very angry. He wanted Zion's people to be ashamed. Zion was the most beautiful city in Israel. But he has put it down to the ground from its high place. Zion was like a place where he had rested his feet. Now that he is angry, he has forgotten about that.

2The Lord has destroyed all the houses where Jacob's people lived. He decided that he must punish them. Because he is angry, he has destroyed all Judah's strong towns. Yes, he has destroyed all the buildings, and he has killed the rulers and all the people.

3Yes, because he is very angry, he has destroyed Israel's whole army. He did not help them when they were fighting the enemy. He was like a big hot fire that burned Jacob's people from all sides.

4He prepared his bow and his arrows, like an enemy ready to kill people. Like an enemy, he has killed all our strong men that once we were proud of. He has shown how angry he was. He has sent a fire to destroy all Zion's houses.