Study Desk

All her people groan as they search for bread. They have traded their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. Look, O LORD, and consider, for I have become despised.

He sent fire from on high; He made it seep into my bones; He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.

For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one nearby to comfort me, no one to revive my soul. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.

The LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against His command. Listen, all you people; look upon my suffering. My young men and maidens have gone into captivity.

I called out to my lovers, but they have betrayed me. My priests and elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive.

Behold, O LORD, how distressed I am. I am churning within; my heart is overturned, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death.

Let all their wickedness come before You, and deal with them as You have dealt with me because of all my transgressions. For my groans are many, and my heart is faint.

What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?

The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The oracles they saw for you were empty and misleading.

All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, "We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see it!"

Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.

You summoned my attackers on every side, as for an appointed feast day. In the Day of the LORD's anger no one escaped or survived. My enemy has destroyed those I nurtured and reared.

He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.

Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.

He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow.

Because of the LORD's loving devotion we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.

Let him sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him.