2 The Lord swallowed up without mercyall the houses of the people of Jacob;in his anger he pulled downthe strong places of Judah.He threw her kingdom and its rulersdown to the ground in dishonor.
3 In his anger he has removedall the strength of Israel;he took away his power from Israelwhen the enemy came.He burned against the people of Jacob like a flaming firethat burns up everything around it.
4 Like an enemy, he prepared to shoot his bow,and his hand was against us.Like an enemy, he killedall the good-looking people;he poured out his anger like fireon the tents of Jerusalem.
5 The Lord was like an enemy;he swallowed up Israel.He swallowed up all her palacesand destroyed all her strongholds.He has caused more moaning and groaningfor Judah.
6 He cut down his Temple like a garden;he destroyed the meeting place.The Lord has made Jerusalem forgetthe set feasts and Sabbath days.He has rejected the king and the priestin his great anger.
7 The Lord has rejected his altarand abandoned his Temple.He has handed over to the enemythe walls of Jerusalem’s palaces.Their uproar in the Lord’s Templewas like that of a feast day.
8 The Lord planned to destroythe wall around Jerusalem.He measured the walland did not stop himself from destroying it.He made the walls and defenses sad;together they have fallen.