Howhath the Lordcoveredthe daughterof Zionwith a cloud in his anger, and cast downfrom heavenunto the earththe beautyof Israel, and rememberednothis footstoolin the dayof his anger! The Lordhath swallowed upallthe habitationsof Jacob, and hath notpitied: he hath thrown downin his wraththe strongholdsof the daughterof Judah; he hath brought them downto the ground: he hath pollutedthe kingdomand the princesthereof. He hath cut offin his fierceangerallthe hornof Israel: he hath drawnbackhis right handfrom beforethe enemy, and he burnedagainst Jacoblike a flamingfire, which devourethround about. He hath benthis bowlike an enemy: he stoodwith his right handas an adversary, and slewall that were pleasantto the eyein the tabernacleof the daughterof Zion: he poured outhis furylike fire. The Lordwasas an enemy: he hath swallowed upIsrael, he hath swallowed upallher palaces: he hath destroyedhis strongholds, and hath increasedin the daughterof Judahmourningand lamentation. And he hath violently taken awayhis tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyedhis places of the assembly: the LORDhath caused the solemn feastsand sabbathsto be forgottenin Zion, and hath despisedin the indignationof his angerthe kingand the priest. The Lordhath cast offhis altar, he hath abhorredhis sanctuary, he hath given upinto the handof the enemythe wallsof her palaces; they have madea noisein the houseof the LORD, as in the dayof a solemn feast. The LORDhath purposedto destroythe wallof the daughterof Zion: he hath stretched outa line, he hath notwithdrawnhis handfrom destroying: therefore he made the rampartand the wallto lament; they languishedtogether. Her gatesare sunkinto the ground; he hath destroyedand brokenher bars: her kingand her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more ; her prophetsalsofindnovisionfrom the LORD. The eldersof the daughterof Zionsitupon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast updustupontheir heads; they have girdedthemselves with sackcloth: the virginsof Jerusalemhang downtheir headsto the ground. Mine eyesdo failwith tears, my bowelsare troubled, my liveris pouredupon the earth, forthe destructionof the daughterof my people; because the childrenand the sucklingsswoonin the streetsof the city. They sayto their mothers, Where is cornand wine? when they swoonedas the woundedin the streetsof the city, when their soulwas poured outintotheir mothers' bosom. What thingshall I take to witnessfor thee? what thingshall I likento thee, O daughterof Jerusalem? whatshall I equalto thee, that I may comfortthee, O virgindaughterof Zion? forthy breach is greatlike the sea: whocan healthee? Thy prophetshave seenvainand foolish thingsfor thee: and they have notdiscoveredthine iniquity, to turn awaythy captivity; but have seenfor thee falseburdensand causes of banishment. Allthat pass byclap their handsatthee; they hissand wagtheir headatthe daughterof Jerusalem, saying, Is thisthe citythat men callThe perfectionof beauty, The joyof the wholeearth? Allthine enemieshave openedtheir mouthagainstthee: they hissand gnashthe teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainlythis is the daythat we looked for; we have found, we have seen it . The LORDhath done that whichhe had devised; he hath fulfilledhis wordthathe had commandedin the daysof old: he hath thrown down, and hath notpitied: and he hath caused thine enemyto rejoiceoverthee, he hath set upthe hornof thine adversaries. Their heartcrieduntothe Lord, O wallof the daughterof Zion, let tearsrun downlike a riverdayand night: givethyself norest; let notthe appleof thine eyecease. Arise, cry outin the night: in the beginningof the watchespour outthine heartlike waterbeforethe faceof the Lord: lift upthy handstowardhim forthe lifeof thy young children, that faintfor hungerin the topof everystreet. Behold, O LORD, and considerto whomthou hast donethis. Shall the womeneattheir fruit, and childrenof a span long? shall the priestand the prophetbe slainin the sanctuaryof the Lord? The youngand the oldlieon the groundin the streets: my virginsand my young menare fallenby the sword; thou hast slain them in the dayof thine anger; thou hast killed, and notpitied. Thou hast calledas in a solemndaymy terrorsround about, so that in the dayof the LORD's angernoneescapednor remained: those thatI have swaddledand brought uphath mine enemyconsumed.