Study Desk

Those who hate her have power over her, and all goes well for them. For the Lord has made her suffer for her many sins. Her children have been taken away in front of those who hate her.

She was unclean in her clothing. She did not think about her future. She came to nothing. She had no one to comfort her. "O Lord, see my suffering, for those who hate me have won!"

Those who hate her have laid their hands on all her things of much worth. For she has seen the nations go into her holy place, those whom You said must not gather with Your people.

All her people cry inside themselves as they look for bread. They have traded their things of much worth for food to have strength. "Look and see, O Lord, for I am hated.

He sent fire from on high into my bones. He has spread a net for my feet and has turned me back. He has left me destroyed, and weak all day long.

I called to my lovers, but they were not faithful to me. My religious leaders and leaders of the people died in the city, while they looked for food to get their strength back.

See how I suffer, O Lord. My spirit is very troubled. My heart has no rest within me, for I have not obeyed. The sword kills in the street. In the house there is only death.

They have heard how I cry in sorrow. There is no one to comfort me. All those who hate me have heard of my trouble. They are glad for what You did. Bring the day that You have told us about, and let them become like me.

The Lord has become like one who hates us. He has destroyed Israel. He has destroyed all its beautiful houses. He has destroyed its strong-places, and has caused much sorrow and crying for the people of Judah.

Her gates have gone down into the ground. He has destroyed and broken her iron pieces. Her king and leaders have been sent among the nations. The Law is no more. And her men who spoke for God have no more special dreams from the Lord.

What can I say for you? What can I compare you with, O people of Jerusalem? What can I compare you with, that I may comfort you, O pure daughter of Zion? For you have been destroyed as much as the sea is large. And who can heal you?

All who hate you have opened their mouths wide against you. They make fun of you and grind their teeth and say, "We have destroyed her! For sure this is the day we have waited for! We have lived to see it!"

Get up and cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night hours. Pour out your heart like water before the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are weak with hunger on every street."

See, O Lord, and look! To whom have You done this? Should women eat their children, the little ones they have cared for? Should religious leaders and men of God be killed in the Lord's holy place?

As people are asked to come to a special supper, You have sent trouble on every side. And no one got away or stayed alive in the day of the Lord's anger. Those I have cared for and brought up have been destroyed by those who hate me.

For sure He has turned His hand against me again and again all day long.

Even when I cry and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

He used His bow, and set me as a mark for His arrow.

It is because of the Lord's loving-kindness that we are not destroyed for His loving-pity never ends.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the one who looks for Him.