Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?

You shrouded yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

So I said, “My endurance has expired; I have lost all hope of deliverance from the Lord.”

ג (Gimel) He has walled me in so that I cannot get out; he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains.

“My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.

צ (Tsade) Our enemies hunted us down at every step so that we could not walk about in our streets. Our end drew near, our days were numbered, for our end had come!

Bring us back to yourself, O Lord, so that we may return to you; renew our life as in days before,

ס (Samek) People cry to them, “Turn away! You are unclean! Turn away! Turn away! Don’t touch us!” So they have fled and wander about; but the nations say, “They may not stay here any longer.”

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.

ו (Vav) All of Daughter Zion’s splendor has departed. Her leaders became like deer; they found no pasture, so they were too exhausted to escape from the hunter.

ש (Sin/Shin) They have heard that I groan, yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have brought it about. Bring about the day of judgment that you promised so that they may end up like me!

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?

נ (Nun) They wander blindly through the streets, defiled by the blood they shed, while no one dares to touch their garments.

ח (Khet) Jerusalem committed terrible sin; therefore she became an object of scorn. All who admired her have despised her because they have seen her nakedness. She groans aloud and turns away in shame.

Let him bury his face in the dust; perhaps there is hope.

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.

It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.

Though he causes us grief, he then has compassion on us according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.

We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria in order to buy food to eat.

א (Alef)Alas! The city once full of people now sits all alone! The prominent lady among the nations has become a widow! The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer!