with the cloud of his anger!
He has thrown down the splendor of Israel
from heaven to earth;
he did not protect4 the temple5
when he displayed his anger.6
b (Bet)
2:2 The Lord7 has destroyed8 all the homes of Jacob’s descendants;9
and10 he has shown no mercy.
In his wrath he has torn down
every fortified city11 in Judah.12
He has toppled13 the kingdom and its rulers,
putting them to shame.14
g (Gimel)
2:3 In his15 fierce anger16 he destroyed17
the whole army18 of Israel.
He withdrew his protection19
when the advancing enemy army attacked.20
He was like a raging fire burning up21 the land of Jacob’s descendants;22
it consumed everything around it.
d (Dalet)
2:4 Like an enemy he strung23 his archer’s bow;
his right hand was ready to shoot.24
Like a foe he has slain
all our vigorous young men;25
he has poured out his wrath like fire
h (He)
2:5 The Lord28 was like an enemy;
he has devastated29 Israel.
He has devastated30 all its31 palaces
and has destroyed its32 fortified cities.
He made everyone in Judah33
mourn and lament.34
w (Vav)
2:6 He has laid waste his temple35 like a vineyard;36
he has destroyed his appointed meeting place.
The Lord has made it impossible for the city of Zion37
to celebrate38 the appointed festivals and Sabbaths.
In his fierce anger39 he has rejected40
Judah’s king and priests.41
z (Zayin)
2:7 The Lord42 has rejected his altar
and has abandoned his temple.43
He allowed the enemy to capture44
the fortified palaces in Jerusalem;45
the enemy46 shouted in celebration47 in the temple48 of the Lord,
like on the day appointed to celebrate a religious feast.49
j (Khet)
2:8 The Lord was determined to tear down
the walls around the city of Zion.50
He marked out the walls of Jerusalem51 for destruction,52
and he did not relent53 until they were destroyed.54
He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament;
both of them mourned their destruction.55
f (Tet)
2:9 The city gates56 have fallen down57 to the ground;
the bars that lock the gates58 have been smashed to pieces.59
Jerusalem’s king and princes60 were taken into exile in other countries;61
there is no longer any guidance available.62
As for her prophets,
they can no longer obtain63 a vision from the Lord.
y (Yod)
2:10 The elders of the city of Zion64
sit65 on the ground in silence;66
they have thrown ashes on their heads;
they clothed themselves with67 sackcloth.
The young single women68 of Jerusalem69
stare down at the ground in grief.70
k (Kaf)
2:11 My eyes are worn out71 because of all my tears;72
my stomach is in knots.73
My bile74 is poured out on the ground,
because of the destruction75 of my beloved Jerusalem,76
because infants and newborn babies faint from hunger77
in the streets of the city.
l (Lamed)
2:12 Children78 cry out to their mothers79
for food and drink.80
Then they lose consciousness81 like a wounded warrior
in the streets of the city.
Then they die slowly82
in the arms83 of their mothers.
m (Mem)
2:13 With what can I equate84 you?
To what can I compare you, O Jerusalem?85
To what can I liken you,86
so that87 I might comfort you, O City of Zion?88
Your wound is as deep89 as the sea;90
no one can heal you!91
n (Nun)
2:14 The visions that your prophets proclaimed to you92
they failed to expose your sin,
thus delivering you from exile.95
They proclaimed96 oracles to you
that were false97 deceptions.98
s (Samek)
2:15 All who pass by you on the road
clap their hands to mock you;99
they sneer and shake their heads
at Jerusalem:100
“Ha! This is the city whose former inhabitants said,101
‘It is perfect in beauty,102
the source of joy103 to the whole earth!’”104
p (Pe)
2:16 All your enemies
jeer at you.105
They sneer and gnash their teeth;
they say, “We have destroyed106 her!
Ha! We have waited a long time for this day!
We have actually lived to see it!”107
u (Ayin)
2:17 The Lord has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled108 his promise109
which he threatened110 to do long ago:111
He has overthrown you without mercy.112
He has allowed the enemy to gloat over you;
he has enabled your adversaries to boast113 about their military might.114
x (Tsade)
2:18 Cry out115 earnestly116 to the Lord,117
O Wall of Zion!118
Let your tears flow like a river
from dawn to dusk!119
Do not allow yourself any rest;
do not let your tears120 stop!
q (Qof)
2:19 Get up! Cry out for help in the night121
at the beginning122 of the night watches!
Pour out your laments123 like water
before the presence of the Lord!124
Lift up your hands to him
on behalf of the lives125 of your children,
who126 are dying127 from hunger
at every street corner.128
Jerusalem Speaks:
r (Resh)
2:20 O Lord, think about it!129
Whom have you ever treated like this?
Should women cannibalize the children they have borne,130
perfectly healthy newborn infants?131
Should priest and prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the Lord?132
? (Sin/Shin)
2:21 The young and old lie dead together
in the dust133 of the streets;
the young men and single young women134 of Jerusalem135
have fallen by the sword.
You killed them when you were angry;136
you slaughtered them without pity.137
t (Tav)
2:22 You invited, as though on an appointed festival day,138
enemies139 to terrify me140 on every side.141
When the Lord became angry,142
no one escaped or survived.
The perfectly healthy children whom I bore143 and raised,144
my enemy has destroyed.
The Prophet Speaks:
a (Alef)