¹⁷ Yahweh has done what he has planned;
    he has fulfilled his promise
that he ordained from the days of old;
    he has demolished and not shown mercy;
he has made an enemy rejoice over you,
    he has exalted the might^[a] of your foes.
¹⁸ Their heart cried to the Lord,
    “O wall of the daughter of Zion,
let tears stream down like a river;
    day and night,
do not give yourself relief,
    do not give your eyes rest.
¹⁹ “Arise, cry out in the night,
    at the beginning of the night watches;
pour out your heart like water,
    before the face of the Lord.
Lift to him your hands,
    for the life of your children,
who faint in starvation,
    at the head of all streets.”