Lamentations 5:14-16

The Voice

¹⁴ Gone from the gates are debate, trade, and the wisdom of sages.
    The streets, too, are silent—the young neglect their music.
¹⁵ The joy from our hearts is gone, utterly gone.
    Our once-dancing feet now plod along mournfully.
¹⁶ The wreath that crowned our head has slipped and fallen; now it’s crushed.
    O how we’ve sinned! Pity us for the punishment we brought on ourselves.