“ I begged my allies for help, but they betrayed me. My priests and leaders starved to death in the city, even as they searched for food to save their lives.

我招呼我所亲爱的，他们却愚弄我。我的祭司和长老正寻求食物、救性命的时候，就在城中绝气。

我招呼我所亲爱的，他们却欺骗了我。我的祭司和长老寻找食物，要救性命的时候，就在城中断了气。

我招呼我所亲爱的，他们却欺骗了我。我的祭司和长老寻找食物，要救性命的时候，就在城中断了气。

“我向情人们求助，他们却欺骗我。我的祭司和长老在觅食求生时，倒毙在城中。

我向我所爱的人呼求，他们却欺骗我。我的祭司和长老为了延续生命，寻找粮食的时候，就在城中气绝身亡了。

我招呼我所親愛的，他們卻愚弄我。我的祭司和長老正尋求食物、救性命的時候，就在城中絕氣。

我招呼我所親愛的，他們卻欺騙了我。我的祭司和長老尋找食物，要救性命的時候，就在城中斷了氣。

我招呼我所親愛的，他們卻欺騙了我。我的祭司和長老尋找食物，要救性命的時候，就在城中斷了氣。

「我向情人們求助，他們卻欺騙我。我的祭司和長老在覓食求生時，倒斃在城中。

我向我所愛的人呼求，他們卻欺騙我。我的祭司和長老為了延續生命，尋找糧食的時候，就在城中氣絕身亡了。

『我招呼了我的親愛者，他們卻哄騙我；我的祭司和長老正為自己尋求着糧食，以救回性命，就在城中氣絕了。

招愛我者、彼則欺我兮、我之祭司長老求糧、以蘇厥靈兮、乃於邑中絕氣兮、

我招良朋、不副予望、祭司長老、惟求糈糧、以果其腹兮、求而不得、亡於邑中兮。

我招良友、彼竟欺我、我之祭司與長老、惟求食物以充饑蘇醒、求而不得、盡亡於邑中、

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

“ I called out to those who were going to help me. But they turned against me. My priests and elders died in the city. They were searching for food just to stay alive.

“ I called to my lovers, but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city, while they sought food to revive their strength.

I called to my lovers, but they betrayed me. My priests and elders perished in the city while searching for food to keep themselves alive.

I called to my lovers, but they deserted me; My priests and my elders perished in the city While they sought food to restore their strength themselves.

“ I called for my lovers, But they deceived me; My priests and my elders Breathed their last in the city, While they sought food To restore their life.

I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, While they sought them food to refresh their souls.

I called to my lovers, but they betrayed me. My priests and elders perished in the city while searching for food to keep themselves alive.

I called for my lovers,[ but] they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

I called for my lovers, but they had deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city. Truly they had searched for food to keep themselves alive.ר( Resh)

“ I called for my lovers, but they deceived me. My priests and my elders gave up the spirit in the city, while they sought food for themselves to refresh their souls.

She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks. Among all her lovers, there is no one left to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies.

“ O Lord, think about this! Should you treat your own people this way? Should mothers eat their own children, those they once bounced on their knees? Should priests and prophets be killed within the Lord’s Temple?

Her people groan as they search for bread. They have sold their treasures for food to stay alive.“ O Lord, look,” she mourns,“ and see how I am despised.

“ My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me.My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me.My servants and maids consider me a stranger. I am like a foreigner to them.When I call my servant, he doesn’t come; I have to plead with him!My breath is repulsive to my wife. I am rejected by my own family.Even young children despise me. When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me.My close friends detest me. Those I loved have turned against me.

We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.

“ Even the priests and prophets are ungodly, wicked men. I have seen their despicable acts right here in my own Temple,” says the Lord.“ Therefore, the paths they take will become slippery. They will be chased through the dark, and there they will fall. For I will bring disaster upon them at the time fixed for their punishment. I, the Lord, have spoken!“ I saw that the prophets of Samaria were terribly evil, for they prophesied in the name of Baal and led my people of Israel into sin.But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse! They commit adultery and love dishonesty. They encourage those who are doing evil so that no one turns away from their sins. These prophets are as wicked as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah once were.”Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says concerning the prophets:“ I will feed them with bitterness and give them poison to drink. For it is because of Jerusalem’s prophets that wickedness has filled this land.”

But why not call on these gods you have made? When trouble comes, let them save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are towns in Judah.

All your lovers— your allies— have left you and do not care about you anymore. I have wounded you cruelly, as though I were your enemy. For your sins are many, and your guilt is great.

“ This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The king of Judah sent you to ask me what is going to happen. Tell him,‘ Pharaoh’s army is about to return to Egypt, though he came here to help you.Then the Babylonians will come back and capture this city and burn it to the ground.’“ This is what the Lord says: Do not fool yourselves into thinking that the Babylonians are gone for good. They aren’t!

Our princes are being hanged by their thumbs, and our elders are treated with contempt.

Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I will punish these lying prophets, for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them. They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will die by war and famine!As for the people to whom they prophesy— their bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and war. There will be no one left to bury them. Husbands, wives, sons, and daughters— all will be gone. For I will pour out their own wickedness on them.Now, Jeremiah, say this to them:“ Night and day my eyes overflow with tears. I cannot stop weeping, for my virgin daughter— my precious people— has been struck down and lies mortally wounded.If I go out into the fields, I see the bodies of people slaughtered by the enemy. If I walk the city streets, I see people who have died of starvation. The prophets and priests continue with their work, but they don’t know what they’re doing.”

Our princes once glowed with health— brighter than snow, whiter than milk. Their faces were as ruddy as rubies, their appearance like fine jewels.But now their faces are blacker than soot. No one recognizes them in the streets. Their skin sticks to their bones; it is as dry and hard as wood.Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger. Starving, they waste away for lack of food from the fields.

Why do you insist on dying— you and your people? Why should you choose war, famine, and disease, which the Lord will bring against every nation that refuses to submit to Babylon’s king?Do not listen to the false prophets who keep telling you,‘ The king of Babylon will not conquer you.’ They are liars.This is what the Lord says:‘ I have not sent these prophets! They are telling you lies in my name, so I will drive you from this land. You will all die— you and all these prophets, too.’”