<p class="poetry">The ruined town<n id="1" /> is shattered;p> <p class="poetry">all of the houses are shut up tight.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">How tragic that the once-faithful cityp> <p class="poetry">has become a prostitute!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">She was once a center of<n id="2" /> justice,p> <p class="poetry">fairness resided in her,p> <p class="poetry">but now only murderers.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">So a strong nation will extol you;p> <p class="poetry">the towns of<n id="1" /> powerful nations will fear you.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Ariel is as good as dead<n id="1" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">Ariel, the town David besieged!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Keep observing your annual rituals,p> <p class="poetry">celebrate your festivals on schedule.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,p> <p class="poetry">wise advisers as in earlier days.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Then you will be called, &#8216;The Just City,p> <p class="poetry">Faithful Town.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">The noisy city is full of raucous sounds;p> <p class="poetry">the town is filled with revelry.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Your slain were not cut down by the sword;p> <p class="poetry">they did not die in battle.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="1" /> you have made the city<n id="2" /> into a heap of rubble,p> <p class="poetry">the fortified town into a heap of ruins;p> <p class="poetry">the fortress of foreigners<n id="3" /> is no longer a city,p> <p class="poetry">it will never be rebuilt.p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> knocks down those who live in a high place,p> <p class="poetry">he brings down an elevated town;p> <p class="poetry">he brings it down to the ground,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he throws it down to the dust.p>

<p class="poetry">Mourn<n id="1" /> over the land of my people,p> <p class="poetry">which is overgrown with thorns and briers,p> <p class="poetry">and over all the once-happy houses<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">in the city filled with revelry.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look at Zion, the city where we hold religious festivals!p> <p class="poetry">You<n id="1" /> will see Jerusalem,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">a peaceful settlement,p> <p class="poetry">a tent that stays put;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">its stakes will never be pulled up;p> <p class="poetry">none of its ropes will snap in two.p>