Lamentations 1

King James Version

Full text for Lamentations Chapter 1

1¶ How doth the city sit solitary, [that was] full of people! [how] is she become as a widow! she [that was] great among the nations, [and] princess among the provinces, [how] is she become tributary!

2She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort [her]: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

3Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

4The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness.

5Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

6And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts [that] find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

7Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, [and] did mock at her sabbaths.

8Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

9Her filthiness [is] in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified [himself].

10The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not enter into thy congregation.

11All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

12¶ [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.

13From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day.

14The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, [and] come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into [their] hands, [from whom] I am not able to rise up.

15The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty [men] in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, [as] in a winepress.

16For these [things] I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

17Zion spreadeth forth her hands, [and there is] none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, [that] his adversaries [should be] round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.

18The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.

19I called for my lovers, [but] they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

20Behold, O LORD; for I [am] in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home [there is] as death.

21They have heard that I sigh: [there is] none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done [it]: thou wilt bring the day [that] thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.

22Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs [are] many, and my heart [is] faint.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jerusalem, once populous and a princess among nations, now sits solitary and desolate, likened to a widow. Her profound suffering stems from her grievous transgressions, for which the LORD has afflicted her. She weeps inconsolably, acknowledging her sin and the justness of divine judgment, while her people endure captivity and distress.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a poignant lament over Jerusalem's utter desolation, portraying her as a solitary widow, stripped of her former glory and subjected to tribute. Her people, Judah, are in captivity due to affliction and servitude, finding no rest, while her adversaries prosper. The city mourns, her gates are desolate, and her sanctuary has been profaned by the heathen, a direct consequence of her manifold transgressions. Jerusalem confesses her grievous sin, which led to her shame and removal, and she cries out to the LORD, describing her unparalleled sorrow and the physical and spiritual torment inflicted by His fierce anger. She acknowledges the LORD's righteousness in her punishment, yet laments the absence of comfort and the death of her leaders and young men.

Long Summary

Lamentations chapter one vividly portrays the profound sorrow and desolation of Jerusalem, personified as a once-great city now sitting solitary, like a widowed princess become tributary. She weeps bitterly, abandoned by former allies who have turned into enemies, as Judah has gone into captivity under great affliction. The ways to Zion mourn, her solemn feasts are forsaken, her priests sigh, and her virgins are afflicted, all experiencing deep bitterness. Her adversaries are in control and prosper, for the LORD Himself has afflicted her due to the multitude of her transgressions, leading to the captivity of her children and the departure of her beauty. Jerusalem remembers her past glories amidst her present miseries, acknowledging her grievous sin which exposed her shame and led to her downfall. The adversary has plundered her pleasant things, and the heathen have entered her sanctuary, contrary to divine command. The people sigh for bread, trading their valuables for sustenance. The lament then shifts to a direct address, imploring all who pass by to witness a sorrow unparalleled, inflicted by the LORD in His fierce anger. The speaker describes the LORD's judgment as fire in her bones, a net for her feet, and a heavy yoke of transgressions upon her neck, causing her strength to fail. The LORD has crushed her mighty men and young men, treading Judah like grapes in a winepress. For these overwhelming sorrows, she weeps incessantly, finding no comforter, as her children are desolate. Zion spreads forth her hands in despair, yet none comfort her, for the LORD has commanded her adversaries to surround her. Despite her suffering, she confesses the LORD's righteousness, admitting her rebellion against His commandment. She recounts the deception of her former lovers and the death of her priests and elders from famine. In her deep distress and troubled heart, she notes her enemies' rejoicing and pleads with the LORD to bring a day of judgment upon them, proportionate to her own suffering for her many transgressions.

Core Concepts

  • Desolation of JerusalemThe city, once full of people and a princess among nations, is now depicted as solitary, widowed, and tributary, stripped of its former glory and population.
  • Divine JudgmentThe LORD is explicitly stated as the one who has afflicted Jerusalem and Judah for the multitude of their transgressions, demonstrating His righteous hand in their suffering.
  • Captivity and SufferingThe people of Judah are described as having gone into captivity due to affliction and great servitude, enduring famine, the death of leaders, and the absence of rest.
  • Confession of SinJerusalem acknowledges her "grievous sin" and "rebellion against his commandment," recognizing that her downfall is a direct consequence of her own unfaithfulness.
  • Lack of ComfortDespite her profound sorrow, Jerusalem laments that among all her former allies and within her own people, "none to comfort her" can be found, highlighting her utter isolation.
  • Sanctuary ProfanationA significant aspect of her suffering is the entry of the heathen into the LORD's sanctuary, a sacred space that was commanded to be exclusive, symbolizing ultimate desecration.
  • Plea for RetributionIn her anguish, Jerusalem appeals to the LORD to bring judgment upon her enemies, asking Him to do unto them as He has done to her for her transgressions.