Lamentations 1:17-21

New International Version

¹⁷ Zion stretches out her hands,^(A)
    but there is no one to comfort her.
The Lord has decreed for Jacob
    that his neighbors become his foes;^(B)
Jerusalem has become
    an unclean^(C) thing^(D) among them.

¹⁸ “The Lord is righteous,^(E)
    yet I rebelled^(F) against his command.
Listen, all you peoples;
    look on my suffering.^(G)
My young men and young women
    have gone into exile.^(H)

¹⁹ “I called to my allies^(I)
    but they betrayed me.
My priests and my elders
    perished^(J) in the city
while they searched for food
    to keep themselves alive.

²⁰ “See, Lord, how distressed^(K) I am!
    I am in torment^(L) within,
and in my heart I am disturbed,^(M)
    for I have been most rebellious.^(N)
Outside, the sword bereaves;
    inside, there is only death.^(O)

²¹ “People have heard my groaning,^(P)
    but there is no one to comfort me.^(Q)
All my enemies have heard of my distress;
    they rejoice^(R) at what you have done.
May you bring the day^(S) you have announced
    so they may become like me.