3 His anger blazing, he knocked Israel flat,broke Israel’s arm and turned his back just as the enemy approached,came on Jacob like a wildfire from every direction.
4 Like an enemy, he aimed his bow, bared his sword,and killed our young men, our pride and joy.His anger, like fire, burned down the homes in Zion.
5 The Master became the enemy. He had Israel for supper.He chewed up and spit out all the defenses.He left Daughter Judah moaning and groaning.
6 He plowed up his old trysting place, trashed his favorite rendezvous.God wiped out Zion’s memories of feast days and Sabbaths,angrily sacked king and priest alike.
7 God abandoned his altar, walked away from his holy Templeand turned the fortifications over to the enemy.As they cheered in God’s Temple, you’d have thought it was a feast day!
8 God drew up plans to tear down the walls of Daughter Zion.He assembled his crew, set to work and went at it.Total demolition! The stones wept!
9 Her city gates, iron bars and all, disappeared in the rubble:her kings and princes off to exile—no one left to instruct or lead;her prophets useless—they neither saw nor heard anything from God.