3 The people of Judah are slaves,suffering in a foreign land,with no rest from sorrow.Their enemies captured themand were terribly cruel.
4 The roads to Zion mournbecause no one travels thereto celebrate the festivals.The city gates are deserted;priests are weeping.Young women are raped;Zion is in sorrow!
5 Enemies now rule the cityand live as they please.The Lord has punished Jerusalembecause of her awful sins;he has let her peoplebe dragged away.
6 Zion's glory has disappeared.Her leaders are like deerthat cannot find pasture;they are hunted downtill their strength is gone.
7 Her people recall the good lifethat once was theirs;now they sufferand are scattered.No one was there to protect themfrom their enemies who sneeredwhen their city was taken.
8 Jerusalem's horrible sinshave made the city a joke.Those who once admired hernow hate her instead—she has been disgraced;she groans and turns away.
9 Her sins had made her filthy,but she wasn't worriedabout what could happen.And when Jerusalem fell,it was so tragic.No one gave her comfortwhen she cried out,“Help! I'm in trouble, Lord!The enemy has won.”