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Judah is punished because of its sins.

BibleGateway: Lamentations 1:1-11

ESV Text: Lamentations 1:1-11


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:20

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     1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! 2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. 3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. 4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. 5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. 6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. 7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths. 8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself. 10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. 11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.(KJV)



Hymn: TLH 268:
Zion Mourns in Fear and Anguish

— Organ Audio

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1. Zion mourns in fear and anguish, 
Zion, city of our God. 
“Ah,” she says, “how sore I languish, 
Bowed beneath the chastening rod! 
For my God forsook me quite 
And forgot my sorry plight 
Mid these troubles now distressing, 
Countless woes my soul oppressing. 

2. “Once,” she mourns, “He promised plainly 
That His help should e’er be near; 
Yet I now must seek Him vainly 
In my days of woe and fear. 
Will His anger never cease? 
Will He not renew His peace? 
Will He not show forth compassion 
And again forgive transgression?” 

3. “Zion, surely I do love thee,” 
Thus to her the Savior saith, 
“Though with many woes I prove thee 
And thy soul is sad to death. 
For My troth is pledged to thee; 
Zion, thou art dear to Me. 
Deep within My heart I’ve set thee, 
That I never can forget thee. 

4. “Let not Satan make thee craven; 
He can threaten, but not harm. 
On My hands thy name is graven, 
And thy shield is My strong arm. 
How, then, could it ever be 
I should not remember thee, 
Fail to build thy wall, My city, 
And look down on thee with pity? 

5. “Ever shall Mine eyes behold thee; 
On My bosom thou art laid. 
Ever shall My love enfold thee; 
Never shalt thou lack Mine aid. 
Neither Satan, war, nor stress 
Then shall mar thy happiness: 
With this blessed consolation 
Be thou firm in tribulation.”