Alas! The city once full of people now sits all alone! The prominent lady among the nations has become a widow! The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer!ב( Bet)

先前满有人民的城，现在何竟独坐！先前在列国中为大的，现在竟如寡妇；先前在诸省中为王后的，现在成为进贡的。

唉！先前人口稠密的城市，现在为何独坐！先前在列国中为大的，现在竟如寡妇！先前在各省中为王后的，现在竟成为服苦役的人！

唉！先前人口稠密的城市，现在为何独坐！先前在列国中为大的，现在竟如寡妇！先前在各省中为王后的，现在竟成为服苦役的人！

从前人烟稠密的城，现在何其荒凉！从前扬威万邦的强国，现在竟像寡妇一样。从前在诸省做公主的，现在却沦为奴婢。

从前人烟稠密的城中，现在怎么竟然孤独地坐在那里。从前在列国中为大的，现在怎么竟然像个寡妇。从前在众省份中为王后的，现在怎么竟然成了奴隶。

先前滿有人民的城，現在何竟獨坐！先前在列國中為大的，現在竟如寡婦；先前在諸省中為王后的，現在成為進貢的。

唉！先前人口稠密的城市，現在為何獨坐！先前在列國中為大的，現在竟如寡婦！先前在各省中為王后的，現在竟成為服苦役的人！

唉！先前人口稠密的城市，現在為何獨坐！先前在列國中為大的，現在竟如寡婦！先前在各省中為王后的，現在竟成為服苦役的人！

從前人煙稠密的城，現在何其荒涼！從前揚威萬邦的強國，現在竟像寡婦一樣。從前在諸省做公主的，現在卻淪為奴婢。

從前人煙稠密的城中，現在怎麼竟然孤獨地坐在那裡。從前在列國中為大的，現在怎麼竟然像個寡婦。從前在眾省份中為王后的，現在怎麼竟然成了奴隸。

怎麼啦！先前滿有人民的城，現在竟自獨坐啊！先前在列國中為大的，現在竟如寡婦啊！先前在諸省中為王后的，現在竟成了作苦工的啊！

噫嘻是邑、昔則居民充盈、今則何其寂寞兮、昔為邦國之長、今如嫠婦兮、昔於諸州為郡主、今則供役兮、

維昔郇邑、居民眾多、今則不勝寂寞兮、昔為大國、今若嫠婦兮、昔也列邦為彼所制、今則為人供役、能勿悲兮。

哀哉斯邑、居民素多、今則寂寞、若嫠婦獨坐、昔於諸國中最大、列邦尊以為后、而今反為人供役、為人供役或作納貢

How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.

The city of Jerusalem is so empty! She used to be full of people. But now she’s like a woman whose husband has died. She used to be great among the nations. She was like a queen among the kingdoms. But now she is a slave.

How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave.

Jerusalem, 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 earth, she is now a slave.

How she sits alone, the city once crowded with people! She who was great among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has been put to forced labor.

How lonely sits the city That once had many people! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces Has become a forced laborer!

How lonely sits the city That was full of people! How like a widow is she, Who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces Has become a slave!

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! She is become as a widow, that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!

How she sits alone, the city once crowded with people! She who was great among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has been put to forced labor.

How doth the city sit solitary,[ that was] full of people![ how] is she become as a widow! she[ that was] great among the nations,[ and] princess among the provinces,[ how] is she become tributary!

How the city sits solitary, that was full of people! She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave!

Her gates will mourn and lament; deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground.

Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates and who were the beneficiaries of tribute, custom, and toll.

( 5: 1) Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime.

Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh the required amount of silver and gold, but to meet Pharaoh’s demands Jehoiakim had to tax the land. He collected an assessed amount from each man among the people of the land in order to pay Pharaoh Necho.

The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

Don’t be afraid, for you will not be put to shame! Don’t be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated! You will forget about the shame you experienced in your youth; you will no longer remember the disgrace of your abandonment.

saying,“ Woe, woe, O great city– dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls–because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” And every ship’s captain, and all who sail along the coast– seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off

The noisy city is full of raucous sounds; the town is filled with revelry. Your slain were not cut down by the sword; they did not die in battle.

Then there were those who said,“ We have borrowed money to pay our taxes to the king on our fields and our vineyards.

Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says,‘ Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age.And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing.

Shake off the dirt! Get up, captive Jerusalem! Take off the iron chains around your neck, O captive daughter Zion!

How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion,“ Your God reigns!”

As much as she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself,‘ I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’

Pharaoh Necho imprisoned him in Riblah in the land of Hamath and prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem. He imposed on the land a special tax of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

The tribes go up there, the tribes of the LORD, where it is required that Israel give thanks to the name of the LORD.

“ Fall down! Sit in the dirt, O virgin daughter Babylon! Sit on the ground, not on a throne, O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, you will no longer be called delicate and pampered.Pick up millstones and grind flour! Remove your veil, strip off your skirt, expose your legs, cross the streams!Let your private parts be exposed! Your genitals will be on display! I will get revenge; I will not have pity on anyone,”says our protector– the LORD who commands armies is his name, the Holy One of Israel.“ Sit silently! Go to a hiding place, O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, you will no longer be called‘ Queen of kingdoms.’I was angry at my people; I defiled my special possession and handed them over to you. You showed them no mercy; you even placed a very heavy burden on old people.You said,‘ I will rule forever as permanent queen!’ You did not think about these things; you did not consider how it would turn out.So now, listen to this, O one who lives so lavishly, who lives securely, who says to herself,‘ I am unique! No one can compare to me! I will never have to live as a widow; I will never lose my children.’Both of these will come upon you suddenly, in one day! You will lose your children and be widowed. You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, despite your many incantations and your numerous amulets.You were complacent in your evil deeds; you thought,‘ No one sees me.’ Your self-professed wisdom and knowledge lead you astray, when you say,‘ I am unique! No one can compare to me!’Disaster will overtake you; you will not know how to charm it away. Destruction will fall on you; you will not be able to appease it. Calamity will strike you suddenly, before you recognize it.Persist in trusting your amulets and your many incantations, which you have faithfully recited since your youth! Maybe you will be successful– maybe you will scare away disaster.You are tired out from listening to so much advice. Let them take their stand– the ones who see omens in the sky, who gaze at the stars, who make monthly predictions– let them rescue you from the disaster that is about to overtake you!Look, they are like straw, which the fire burns up; they cannot rescue themselves from the heat of the flames. There are no coals to warm them, no firelight to enjoy.They will disappoint you, those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. Each strays off in his own direction, leaving no one to rescue you.”

Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety.“ Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.

Alas! Gold has lost its luster; pure gold loses value. Jewels are scattered on every street corner.ב( Bet)

Babylon hammered the whole world to pieces. But see how that‘ hammer’ has been broken and shattered! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!

Alas! The Lord has covered Daughter Zion with his anger. He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect his temple when he displayed his anger.ב( Bet)

Its abundant produce goes to the kings you have placed over us due to our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they see fit, and we are in great distress!

Look how you have fallen from the sky, O shining one, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O conqueror of the nations!

The LORD said,“ I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins. Jackals will make their home there. I will destroy the towns of Judah so that no one will be able to live in them.”

The elders of Daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dirt on their heads; They have dressed in sackcloth. Jerusalem’s young women stare down at the ground.כ( Kaf)

This is how the once-proud city will end up– the city that was so secure. She thought to herself,“ I am unique! No one can compare to me!” What a heap of ruins she has become, a place where wild animals live! Everyone who passes by her taunts her and shakes his fist.

All the princes of the sea will vacate their thrones. They will remove their robes and strip off their embroidered clothes; they will clothe themselves with trembling. They will sit on the ground; they will tremble continually and be shocked at what has happened to you.

The sovereign LORD has spoken to me clearly; I have not rebelled, I have not turned back.

He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt.