Study Desk

For all this came about in Jerusalem and Judah because of the anger of the LORD, and [in the end] He cast them from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

The roads to Zion are in mourning Because no one comes to the appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests are groaning, Her virgins are grieved and suffering, And she suffers bitterly.

Her adversaries have become her masters, Her enemies prosper; For the LORD has caused her grief Because of the multitude of her transgressions; Her young children have gone Into captivity before the enemy.

Jerusalem sinned greatly; Therefore she has become an unclean thing [and has been removed]. All who honored her [now] despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Even she herself groans and turns [her face] away.

"I weep for these things; My eyes overflow with tears, Because a comforter, One who could restore my soul, is far away from me. My children are desolate and perishing, For the enemy has prevailed."

"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."

My eyes fail because of tears [mourns Jeremiah], My spirit is deeply disturbed; My heart is poured out on the earth [in grief] Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem], When little ones and infants faint In the streets of the city.

I am [Jeremiah] the man who has seen affliction Because of the rod of His wrath.

It is because of the LORD'S lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail.

Let him sit alone [in hope] and keep quiet, Because God has laid it on him [for his benefit].

My eyes overflow with streams of tears Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people (Jerusalem).

My eyes [see things that] bring pain to my soul Because of all the daughters of my city.

The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for food, But no one gives it to them.

Their appearance is [now] blacker than soot [because of the prolonged famine]; They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones; It is withered, and it has become [dry] like wood.

The hands of compassionate women Boiled their own children; They became food for them Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Judah].

Because of the sins of her [counterfeit] prophets And the wickedness of her [unfaithful] priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the just and righteous;

We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword [of the Arabs] in the wilderness [who may attack if we go out to harvest the crop].

Our skin is as hot as [the heat of] an oven Because of the burning heat of [the fever of] famine.

Because of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim.

"However, if you have warned the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning; also you have freed yourself [from responsibility]."