Rachel is weeping for her children. (1)

(she asks), for what sin she was killed. (2)

She refuses to be comforted by her children

because they are no more. (3)

(She asks) Is there no balm in Gilead? 

Is there no physician there? (4)

The heart is deceitful above all things. (5)

The stain has covered their hearts with what they were earning. (6)

who was living is now dead. (7)

The lion has come up from his thicket. 

The destroyer of nations has set out

He has gone out of his place 

to make your land a waste. (8)

How many cities did we destroy… so it is [now] fallen into ruin. (9)

I see crowds of people walking around in a ring

Sighs, short and infrequent, were exhaled. (10)

saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. (11)

The harvest is past

The summer has ended 

And we are not saved. (12)

from prophet to priest

Everyone deals falsely. (13)

Death has climbed in through our windows 

and entered our fortresses

It has cut off the children from the streets 

and the young men from the public squares. (14)

White bodies naked on the low, damp ground

And bones cast in a little, low, dry garret

Rattled by the rat’s foot only, year to year. (15)

Each man fixed his eyes before his feet. (16)

And you will see them looking at you while they do not see you. (17)

I looked on the earth, and behold

It was without form and void. (18)

The dead tree gives no shelter

The cricket no relief

And the dry stone no sound of water. (19)

I looked on the mountains, and behold, 

They were quaking. (20)

be like wool, fluffed up. (21)

I looked, and behold, there was no man, 

And all the birds of the air had fled. (22)

I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, 

and all its cities were laid in ruins. (23)

Who was living is now dead

We who were living are now dying. (24)

(someone says) Look! 

An army is coming from the north. 

a great nation and many kings are being stirred up from the ends of the earth. (25)

the city over the mountains

Cracks and reforms and bursts in the violet air. (26)

I who have sat by Thebes below the wall

And walked among the lowest of the dead. (27)

I had not thought death had undone so many. (28)

That is what you were trying to avoid. (29)

Who was living is now dead. (30)

Oh that my head were waters, 

and my eyes a fountain of tears

that I might weep day and night 

for the slaying of the daughter of my people! (31)

Speak to me. 

Why do you never speak? 

Speak. (32)

I have put my words in your mouth. (33)

You have seen correctly, 

for I am watching to see 

that my word is fulfilled. (34)

You keep going backward. (35)

-So, where are you going? (36)

-I am weary of relenting. (37)

The land shall be a desolation

Yet I will not make a full end. (38)

(but) Do not rejoice

that the rod that struck you is broken

From the root of that snake will spring up a viper

Its fruit will be a darting

venomous serpent. (39)

I will show you fear in a handful of dust. (40)

On that day, the deaf will hear the words of the scroll

And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see. (41)

On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor. (42)

Who was living is now dead. (43)