Lamentations 2:8-10

Good News Translation

⁸ The Lord was determined that the walls of Zion should fall;
    He measured them off to make sure of total destruction.
    The towers and walls now lie in ruins together.

⁹ The gates lie buried in rubble, their bars smashed to pieces.
    The king and the noblemen now are in exile.
    The Law is no longer taught, and the prophets have no visions from the Lord.

¹⁰ Jerusalem's old men sit on the ground in silence,
    With dust on their heads and sackcloth on their bodies.
    Young women bow their heads to the ground.