Behold My Suffering

Lamentations 1:8-22:

 8Jerusalem sinned grievously, so she has become a mockery;

 all who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness;

 she herself groans,  and turns her face away.

 9Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future;

 her downfall was appalling, with none to comfort her.

 “O LORD, look at my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!”

 10Enemies have stretched out their hands over all her precious things;

 she has even seen the nations invade her sanctuary, those whom you forbade

 to enter your congregation.

 11All her people groan as they search for bread;

 they trade their treasures for food to revive their strength.

 Look, O LORD, and see how worthless I have become.

 12Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

 Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,

 which was brought upon me, which the LORD inflicted

 on the day of his fierce anger.

 13From on high he sent fire; it went deep into my bones;

 he spread a net for my feet; he turned me back;

 he has left me stunned, faint all day long.

 14My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they weigh on my neck, sapping my strength;

 the LORD handed me over to those whom I cannot withstand.

 15The LORD has rejected all my warriors in the midst of me;

 he proclaimed a time against me to crush my young men;

 the LORD has trodden as in a wine press the virgin daughter Judah.

 16For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears;

 for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my courage;

 my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed.

 17Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her;

 the LORD has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should become his foes;

 Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.

 18The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word;

 but hear, all you peoples, and behold my suffering;

 my young women and young men have gone into captivity.

 19I called to my lovers but they deceived me;

 my priests and elders perished in the city

 while seeking food to revive their strength.

 20See, O LORD, how distressed I am; my stomach churns,

 my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious.

 In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death.

 21They heard how I was groaning, with no one to comfort me.

 All my enemies heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it.

 Bring on the day you have announced, and let them be as I am.

 22Let all their evil doing come before you; and deal with them

 as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions;

 for my groans are many and my heart is faint.