<p class="poetry">For wild animals<n id="1" /> are prowling over Mount Zion,p> <p class="poetry">which lies desolate.p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1489; (<i>Beti>)p> <p class="poetry">The precious sons of Zionp> <p class="poetry">were worth their weight in gold &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">Alas! &#8211; but now they are treated like<n id="1" /> broken clay pots,p> <p class="poetry">made by a potter.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1491; (<i>Daleti>)p> <p class="poetry">The roads to Zion<n id="1" /> mourn<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">because no one<n id="3" /> travels to the festivals.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">All her city gates<n id="5" /> are deserted;<n id="6" />p> <p class="poetry">her priests groan.<n id="7" />p> <p class="poetry">Her virgins grieve;<n id="8" />p> <p class="poetry">she is in bitter anguish!<n id="9" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1493; (<i>Vavi>)p> <p class="poetry">All of Daughter Zion&#8217;s<n id="1" /> splendor<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">has departed.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Her leaders became like deer;p> <p class="poetry">they found no pasture,p> <p class="poetry">so they were too exhausted to escape<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">from the hunter.<n id="5" />p>

<t /><p class="lamhebrew">&#1508; (<i>Pei>)p> <p class="poetry">Zion spread out her hands,p> <p class="poetry">but there is no one to comfort her.p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> has issued a decree against Jacob;p> <p class="poetry">his neighbors<n id="1" /> have become his enemies.p> <p class="poetry">Jerusalem has becomep> <p class="poetry">like filthy garbage<n id="2" /> in their midst.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="lamhebrew">&#1488; (<i>Alefi>)p> <p class="poetry">Alas!<n id="1" /> The Lord<n id="2" /> has coveredp> <p class="poetry">Daughter Zion<n id="3" /> with his anger.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">He has thrown down the splendor of Israelp> <p class="poetry">from heaven to earth;p> <p class="poetry">he did not protect<n id="5" /> his temple<n id="6" />p> <p class="poetry">when he displayed his anger.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1491; (<i>Daleti>)p> <p class="poetry">He prepared his bow<n id="1" /> like an enemy;p> <p class="poetry">his right hand was ready to shoot.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Like a foe he killed everyone,p> <p class="poetry">even our strong young men;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">he has poured out his anger like firep> <p class="poetry">on the tent<n id="4" /> of Daughter Zion.p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1495; (<i>Kheti>)p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> was determined to tear downp> <p class="poetry">Daughter Zion&#8217;s wall.p> <p class="poetry">He prepared to knock it down;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he did not withdraw his hand from destroying.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament;p> <p class="poetry">together they mourned their ruin.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1497; (<i>Yodi>)p> <p class="poetry">The elders of Daughter Zionp> <p class="poetry">sit<n id="1" /> on the ground in silence.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">They have thrown dirt on their heads;p> <p class="poetry">They have dressed in sackcloth.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Jerusalem&#8217;s young women<n id="4" /> stare down at the ground.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1514; (<i>Tavi>)p> <p class="poetry">O people of Zion,<n id="1" /> your punishment<n id="2" /> will come to an end;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">he will not prolong your exile.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">But, O people of Edom,<n id="5" /> he will punish<n id="6" /> your sin<n id="7" />p> <p class="poetry">and reveal<n id="8" /> your offenses!p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1502; (<i>Memi>)p> <p class="poetry">With what can I equate<n id="1" /> you?p> <p class="poetry">To what can I compare you, O Daughter Jerusalem?p> <p class="poetry">To what can I liken you<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">so that<n id="3" /> I might comfort you, O Virgin Daughter Zion?p> <p class="poetry">Your wound is as deep<n id="4" /> as the sea.<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">Who can heal you?<n id="6" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew"><b>&#1510;b> (<i>Tsadei>)p> <p class="poetry">Cry out<n id="1" /> from your heart<n id="2" /> to the Lord,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">O wall of Daughter Zion!<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Make your tears flow like a riverp> <p class="poetry">all day and all night long!<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not rest;p> <p class="poetry">do not let your tears<n id="6" /> stop!p>