1 How does 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!

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

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

4 The 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.

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

6 And 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.

7 Jerusalem 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.

8 Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yes, she sighs, and turns backward.

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

10 The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things: for she has seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom you did command that they should not enter into your congregation.

11 All 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 you that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow, which is done to me, with which the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

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

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

15 The LORD has trodden under foot all my mighty men in the middle of me: he has called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the LORD has trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a wine press.

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

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

18 The 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.

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

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

21 They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it: you will bring the day that you have called, and they shall be like to me.

22 Let all their wickedness come before you; and do to them, as you have done to me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

How = Alas! or, O how! Hebrew. ’eykah = an exclamation of pain and grief, a wailing cry (preserved in Eng. "jackal"). The Massorah (App-30) points out that this exclamation is used by three prophets, concerning Israel:

(1) by Moses in her multiplication ( Deu 1:12. Compare Lam 1:11);

(2) by Isaiah in her dissipation ( Isa 1:21);

(3) by Jeremiah in her desolation ( Lam 1:1).

This word "How" is to be supplied at the beginning of verses: Lam 1:2-3 by Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6). Compare also Lam 2:1; Lam 4:1; and Isa 14:12.

solitary: i.e. empty; referring to the houses and streets.

weepeth sore. Note Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6). The Hebrew = a weeping she weepeth. Thus well rendered. See note on Gen 26:28; and note the Figure of speech Prosopopoeia (App-6).

lovers: i.e. allies, whom she had preferred to Jehovah. See Jer 2:17, Jer 2:27, Jer 2:36, Jer 2:37; Jer 4:30; Jer 22:22. Eze 23; and Lam 29:6, Lam 29:7, Lam 29:16.

enemies. Especially the Edomites and Ammonites. Compare Jer 12:14.

among the heathen. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 28:64, Deu 28:65).

heathen = nations.

persecutors = pursuers.

between the straits. Like a hunted animal driven where there is no escape. Same word as in Psa 116:3; Psa 118:5. Occurs only in these three places. Compare Lam 1:6.

The ways. Not streets in the city, but the roads leading thereto.

mourn. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6.

solemn feasts = appointed feasts. See note on Psa 74:8 (same word).

bitterness = bitter for her. Instead of festal joy, Compare Jer 7:34; Jer 16:9; Jer 25:10; Jer 31:13; Jer 33:11.

are the chiefs are the head. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 28:13, Deu 28:44), the same word. App-92.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4. transgressions = rebellions. Hebrew. pasha’. App-44.

children = young children, as in Lam 2:11, Lam 2:19, Lam 2:20, and Lam 4:4. Not "sons".

like harts. See note on Lam 1:3.

pleasant things. Hebrew = things of desire. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the things she used to enjoy.

sabbaths: or, sabbath-keepings; which she had herself profaned. See Jer 17:21-23. Eze 22:8, Eze 22:26; Eze 23:38,

grievously sinned. Note the Figure of speech Polyptoton Hebrew = sinned a sin. Thus well rendered. See note on "weepeth sore" ( Lam 1:2).

sinned. Hebrew. chata’. App-44.

is remove d = separated as unclean.

remernbereth = remembered.

last end = hereafter.

wonderfully. Hebrew, plural "wonders" = a great wonder.

behold = see, behold. Same word as in verses: Lam 1:18, Lam 1:20. Not the same word as in Lam 1:12.

entered into her sanctuary. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 23:3), a technical expression. App-92.

congregation = convocation, or assembly.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

behold = look attentively. Not the same word as in verses: Lam 1:9, Lam 1:18, Lam 1:20.

be = exists. Hebrew. yesh. See Gen 18:24. Pro 8:21; Pro 18:24, &c.

sorrow = pain.

done unto me. Compare Lam 1:22; Lam 3:15.

The yoke, &c. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 28:48), the same words. App-92.

wreathed = intertwined.

He: or. It: i.e. the yoke.

fall = stumble.

the LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim say they changed Jehovah to Adonai. See App-32.

mighty men = valiant ones. Hebrew. ’abir. Not the same word as in Lam 3:1, Lam 3:27, Lam 3:35, Lam 3:39.

called = proclaimed. Same word as in verses: Lam 1:19, Lam 1:21.

an assembly = a festal gathering. Now that Israel’s feasts had ceased, there was another of a different nature and with a different object.

winepress. Hebrew. gath, where the grapes were trodden. Not the vat (yekeb) into which the juice was received.

mine eye, mine eye. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for emphasis. It is not repeated in the Septuagint

relieve my soul = bring me back to life. Compare Lam 1:19.

children = sons. Not the same word as in Lam 2:11, Lam 2:19, Lam 2:20 and Lam 4:4.

Jacob. Referring to the natural seed. See notes on Gen 32:28; Gen 43:6; Gen 45:26, Gen 45:28. Compare Lam 2:1.

is. Hebrew = He [is].

people = peoples.

gave up the ghost = expired, or breathed their last.

Behold. Here begins the prayer.

abroad the sword. Reference to Pentateuch ( Deu 32:25).

the day: i.e. the day of vengeance of Jer 25:17-26.

Let all, &c. This prayer is in accordance with that Dispensation. Not with this. See App-63.

wickedness. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.

as =. according as.

transgressions = rebellions. Hebrew. pasha’. App-44.