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She sobs through the night; tears run down her cheeks. Among all her lovers,[a] there is none to help her. All her friends are now her enemies.

Why is Judah led away, a slave? Because of all the wrong she did to others, making them her slaves. Now she sits in exile far away. There is no rest, for those she persecuted have turned and conquered her.

The roads to Zion mourn, no longer filled with joyous throngs who come to celebrate the Temple feasts; the city gates are silent, her priests groan, her virgins have been dragged away. Bitterly she weeps.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:2 Among all her lovers refers to Egypt and Israel’s other former allies.

Bitterly she weeps(A) at night,
    tears are on her cheeks.
Among all her lovers(B)
    there is no one to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed(C) her;
    they have become her enemies.(D)

After affliction and harsh labor,
    Judah has gone into exile.(E)
She dwells among the nations;
    she finds no resting place.(F)
All who pursue her have overtaken her(G)
    in the midst of her distress.

The roads to Zion mourn,(H)
    for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
All her gateways are desolate,(I)
    her priests groan,
her young women grieve,
    and she is in bitter anguish.(J)

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