to deprive a person of his rights in the presence of the Most High,

ו (Vav) The punishment of my people exceeded that of of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment with no one to help her.

ל (Lamed) Neither the kings of the earth nor the people of the lands ever thought that enemy or foe would enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.

מ (Mem) But it happened due to the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous.

Because of this, our hearts are sick; because of these things, we can hardly see through our tears.

ט (Tet) Those who died by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food.

At the risk of our lives we get our food because robbers lurk in the countryside.

ש (Sin/Shin) Rejoice and be glad for now, O people of Edom, who reside in the land of Uz. But the cup of judgment will pass to you also; you will get drunk and take off your clothes.

What my eyes see grieves me – all the suffering of the daughters in my city.

They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.

י (Yod) The hands of tenderhearted women cooked their own children, who became their food, when my people were destroyed.

א (Alef) I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath.

I have become the laughingstock of all people, their mocking song all day long.

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.

I am deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is.

Watch them from morning to evening; I am the object of their mocking songs.

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!’?”

ת (Tav) O people of Zion, your punishment will come to an end; he will not prolong your exile. But, O people of Edom, he will punish your sin and reveal your offenses!

to defraud a person in a lawsuit – the Lord does not approve of such things!