Qynah (Lamentations) — 1

Sorrow in Yahushalam 

1 Yahushalam, once so full of people, is now deserted, She who was once great among the nations now sits alone like a widow, Once the queen of all the Arath, she is now a slave.

2 She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks, among all her lovers,    there is no one left to comfort her, all her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies.

3 Yahudah has been led away into captivity, oppressed with cruel slavery, She lives among foreign nations and has no place of rest, her enemies have chased her down, and she has nowhere to turn.

4 The roads to Yahushalam are in mourning, for crowds no longer come to celebrate the festivals, the city gates are silent, her Kuhanym groan, her young women are crying, how bitter is her fate!

5 Her oppressors have become her masters, and her enemies prosper, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has punished Yahushalam for her many sins, her children have been captured and taken away to distant lands.

6 All the majesty of beautiful Yahushalam has been stripped away, her princes are like starving deer searching for pasture, they are too weak to run from the pursuing enemy.

7 In the midst of her sadness and wandering, Yahushalam remembers her ancient splendor, but now she has fallen to her enemy, and there is no one to help her, for her enemy struck her down and laughed as she fell.

8 Yahushalam has sinned greatly, so she has been tossed away like a filthy rag, all who once honored her now despise her, for they have seen her stripped naked and humiliated, all she can do is groan and hide her face.

9 She defiled herself with immorality and gave no thought to her future, now she lies in the gutter with no one to lift her out, “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, see my misery,” she cries, the enemy has triumphed.”

10 The enemy has plundered her completely, taking every precious thing she owns, she has seen foreigners violate her sacred Temple, the place 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had forbidden them to enter.

11 Her people groan as they search for bread, they have sold their treasures for food to stay alive, “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, look,” she mourns, “and see how I am despised.

12 “Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine, which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH brought on me when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH erupted in fierce anger.

13 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has sent fire from Shamaym that burns in my bones, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has placed a trap in my path and turned me back, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has left me devastated, racked with sickness all day long.

14 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH wove my sins into ropes to hitch me to a yoke of captivity. 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sapped my strength and turned me over to my enemies; I am helpless in their hands.

15 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has treated my mighty men with contempt, at 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH command a great army has come to crush my young warriors, He has trampled His beloved city like grapes are trampled in a winepress.

16 “For all these things I weep; tears flow down my cheeks, no one is here to comfort me; anyone who might encourage me are far away, my children have no future, for the enemy has conquered us.”

17 Yahushalam reaches out for help, but no one comforts her, regarding His people Yashar'AL, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has Dabar, “Let their neighbors be their enemies! Let them be thrown away like a filthy rag!”

18 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is right,” Yahushalam says, “for I rebelled against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, Listen people everywhere; look upon my anguish and despair, for my sons and daughters have been taken captive to distant lands.

19 “I begged my allies for help, but they betrayed me, My Kuhanym and leaders    starved to death in the city, even as they searched for food to save their lives.

20 “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, see my anguish! My heart is brokenand my soul despairs, for I have rebelled against you, In the streets the sword kills, and at home there is only death.

21 “Others heard my groans, but no one turned to comfort me, when my enemies heard about my troubles, they were happy to see what you had done, Oh, bring the day you promised, when they will suffer as I have suffered.

22 Look at all their evil deeds, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, Punish them, as you have punished me for all my sins, my groans are many, and I am sick at heart.”