Lamentations 2:9-11

The Voice

⁹ Into the earth, Jerusalem’s defenses, the bars and gates, are sunk—
    her leaders, both king and prince, scattered among surrounding nations,
Gone to foreign places.
    Now there is no law, no wise instruction;
The prophets receive no divine visions;
    who can see the Eternal’s way?

¹⁰ Jerusalem elders of daughter Zion are mute,
    dispensing no precious wisdom.
They sit on the ground distraught, clad in sackcloth;
    they hurl dust on their heads.
The young maidens of Jerusalem hang their heads
    down to the ground.

¹¹ Knowing the fate of Zion, my insides are in turmoil and pour out
    for Jerusalem, the devastation of the daughter of my people.
I can’t see because of the tears for the children in the streets—
    I can’t stop crying for infants and toddlers too weak to wail.
My people are destroyed.