| 2:1 | א (Alef) Alas!* The Lord* has covered Daughter Zion* with his anger.* He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect* his temple* when he displayed his anger.* |
| 2:2 | ב (Bet) The Lord* destroyed* mercilessly* all the homes of Jacob’s descendants.* In his anger he tore down the fortified cities* of Daughter Judah. He knocked to the ground and humiliated the kingdom and its rulers.* |
| 2:3 | ג (Gimel) In fierce anger* he destroyed* the whole army* of Israel. He withdrew his right hand* as the enemy attacked.* He was like a raging fire in the land of Jacob;* it consumed everything around it.* |
| 2:4 | ד (Dalet) He prepared his bow* like an enemy; his right hand was ready to shoot.* Like a foe he killed everyone, even our strong young men;* he has poured out his anger like fire on the tent* of Daughter Zion. |
| 2:5 | ה (He) The Lord,* like an enemy, destroyed* Israel. He destroyed* all her palaces; he ruined her* fortified cities. He made everyone in Daughter Judah mourn and lament.* |
| 2:6 | ו (Vav) He destroyed his temple* as if it were a vineyard;* he destroyed his appointed meeting place. The Lord has made those in Zion forget both the festivals and the Sabbaths.* In his fierce anger* he has spurned* both king and priest. |
| 2:7 | ז (Zayin) The Lord* rejected* his altar and abhorred his temple.* He handed over to the enemy* her palace walls; the enemy* shouted* in the Lord’s temple as if it were a feast day.* |
| 2:8 | ח (Khet) The Lord was determined to tear down Daughter Zion’s wall. He prepared to knock it down;* he did not withdraw his hand from destroying.* He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament; together they mourned their ruin.* |
| 2:9 | ט (Tet) Her city gates have fallen* to the ground; he smashed to bits* the bars that lock her gates.* Her king and princes were taken into exile;* there is no more guidance available.* As for her prophets, they no longer receive* a vision from the Lord. |
| 2:10 | י (Yod) The elders of Daughter Zion sit* on the ground in silence.* They have thrown dirt on their heads; They have dressed in sackcloth.* Jerusalem’s young women* stare down at the ground.* |
| 2:11 | כ (Kaf) My eyes are worn out* from weeping;* my stomach is in knots.* My heart* is poured out on the ground due to the destruction* of my helpless people;* children and infants faint in the town squares. |
| 2:12 | ל (Lamed) Children* say to their mothers,* “Where are food and drink?”* They faint* like a wounded warrior in the city squares. They die slowly* in their mothers’ arms.* |
| 2:13 | מ (Mem) With what can I equate* you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you* so that* I might comfort you, O Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep* as the sea.* Who can heal you?* |
| 2:14 | נ (Nun) Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless lies.* They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes.* They saw oracles for you that were worthless* lies. |
| 2:15 | ס (Samek) All who passed by on the road clapped their hands to mock you.* They sneered and shook their heads at Daughter Jerusalem. “Ha! Is this the city they called* ‘The perfection of beauty,* the source of joy of the whole earth!’?”* |
| 2:16 | פ (Pe) All your enemies gloated over you.* They sneered and gnashed their teeth; they said, “We have destroyed* her! Ha! We have waited a long time for this day. We have lived to see it!”* |
| 2:17 | ע (Ayin) The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled* his promise* that he threatened* long ago:* He has overthrown you without mercy* and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you; he has exalted your adversaries’ power.* |
| 2:18 | צ (Tsade) Cry out* from your heart* to the Lord,* O wall of Daughter Zion!* Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long!* Do not rest; do not let your tears* stop! |
| 2:19 | ק (Qof) Get up! Cry out in the night* when the night watches start!* Pour out your heart* like water before the face of the Lord!* Lift up your hands* to him for your children’s lives;* they are fainting* at every street corner.* |
| 2:20 | ר (Resh) Look, O Lord! Consider!* Whom have you ever afflicted* like this? Should women eat their offspring,* their healthy infants?* Should priest and prophet be killed in the Lord’s* sanctuary? |
| 2:21 | ש (Sin/Shin) The young boys and old men lie dead on the ground in the streets. My young women* and my young men have fallen by the sword. You killed them when you were angry;* you slaughtered them without mercy.* |
| 2:22 | ת (Tav) As if it were a feast day, you call* enemies* to terrify me* on every side.* On the day of the Lord’s anger no one escaped or survived. My enemy has finished off those healthy infants whom I bore* and raised.* |
Lamentations 2 - NET Bible [draft]
