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.

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.

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!

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)

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!

The gates of Zion will weep and mourn. The city will be like a ravaged woman, huddled on the ground.

Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls.

Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.

In order to get the silver and gold demanded as tribute by Pharaoh Neco, Jehoiakim collected a tax from the people of Judah, requiring them to pay in proportion to their wealth.

The garlands have fallen from our heads. Weep for us because we have sinned.

“ Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.

“ How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!” And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance.

The whole city is in a terrible uproar. What do I see in this reveling city? Bodies are lying everywhere, killed not in battle but by famine and disease.

And others said,“ We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes.

“ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares.And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.

Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so match it now with torment and sorrow. She boasted in her heart,‘ I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn.’

Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath to prevent him from ruling in Jerusalem. He also demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute.

All the tribes of Israel— the Lord’s people— make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel.

“ Come down, virgin daughter of Babylon, and sit in the dust. For your days of sitting on a throne have ended. O daughter of Babylonia, never again will you be the lovely princess, tender and delicate.Take heavy millstones and grind flour. Remove your veil, and strip off your robe. Expose yourself to public view.You will be naked and burdened with shame. I will take vengeance against you without pity.”Our Redeemer, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, is the Holy One of Israel.“ O beautiful Babylon, sit now in darkness and silence. Never again will you be known as the queen of kingdoms.For I was angry with my chosen people and punished them by letting them fall into your hands. But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy. You oppressed even the elderly.You said,‘ I will reign forever as queen of the world!’ You did not reflect on your actions or think about their consequences.“ Listen to this, you pleasure loving kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure. You say,‘ I am the only one, and there is no other. I will never be a widow or lose my children.’Well, both these things will come upon you in a moment: widowhood and the loss of your children. Yes, these calamities will come upon you, despite all your witchcraft and magic.“ You felt secure in your wickedness.‘ No one sees me,’ you said. But your‘ wisdom’ and‘ knowledge’ have led you astray, and you said,‘ I am the only one, and there is no other.’So disaster will overtake you, and you won’t be able to charm it away. Calamity will fall upon you, and you won’t be able to buy your way out. A catastrophe will strike you suddenly, one for which you are not prepared.“ Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.All the advice you receive has made you tired. Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds.But they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. You will get no help from them at all; their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.And all your friends, those with whom you’ve done business since childhood, will go their own ways, turning a deaf ear to your cries.

Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonians meant them no harm.“ Don’t be afraid to serve them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,” he promised.

How the gold has lost its luster! Even the finest gold has become dull. The sacred gemstones lie scattered in the streets!

Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth, lies broken and shattered. Babylon is desolate among the nations!

The Lord in his anger has cast a dark shadow over beautiful Jerusalem. The fairest of Israel’s cities lies in the dust, thrown down from the heights of heaven. In his day of great anger, the Lord has shown no mercy even to his Temple.

The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”

“ How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.

“ I will make Jerusalem into a heap of ruins,” says the Lord.“ It will be a place haunted by jackals. The towns of Judah will be ghost towns, with no one living in them.”

The leaders of beautiful Jerusalem sit on the ground in silence. They are clothed in burlap and throw dust on their heads. The young women of Jerusalem hang their heads in shame.

This is the boisterous city, once so secure.“ I am the greatest!” it boasted.“ No other city can compare with me!” But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a haven for wild animals. Everyone passing by will laugh in derision and shake a defiant fist.

All the seaport rulers will step down from their thrones and take off their royal robes and beautiful clothing. They will sit on the ground trembling with horror at your destruction.

The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.

He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south.