Study Desk

And he burned the house of the LORD, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every large house he burned with fire.

So the entire army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard tore down all the walls around Jerusalem.

Also, a capital of bronze was on top of it; and the height of each capital was five cubits, with latticework and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these, including pomegranates.

Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three officers of the temple.

Then he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.

She weeps bitterly in the night, And her tears are on her cheeks; She has no one to comfort her Among all her lovers. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.

"Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was inflicted on me, With which the LORD tormented me on the day of His fierce anger.

"For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One to restore my soul. My children are desolate Because the enemy has prevailed."

Zion stretches out with her hands; There is no one to comfort her; The LORD has commanded regarding Jacob That those around him become his adversaries; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.

"May all their wickedness come before You; And deal with them just as You have dealt with me For all my wrongdoings. For my groans are many and my heart is faint."

How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion With a cloud in His anger! He has hurled The glory of Israel from heaven to earth, And has not remembered His footstool In the day of His anger.

"See, LORD, and look! With whom have You dealt this way? Should women really eat their children, The little ones who were born healthy? Should priest and prophet really be killed In the sanctuary of the Lord?

He has besieged and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

He has blocked my ways with cut stone; He has twisted my paths.

He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink plenty of wormwood.

He has also made my teeth grind with gravel; He has made me cower in the dust.

Let him give his cheek to the one who is going to strike him; Let him be filled with shame.

You have covered Yourself with anger And pursued us; You have slain and have not spared.

You have veiled Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through.

My eyes run down with streams of water Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.