Lamentations 2:5-7

New International Reader's Version

⁵ The Lord was like an enemy.
    He swallowed up Israel.
He swallowed up all of its palaces.
    He destroyed its forts.
He filled the people of Judah
    with sorrow and sadness.

⁶ The Lord’s temple was like a garden.
    But he completely destroyed it.
He destroyed the place
    where he used to meet with his people.
He made Zion’s people forget
    their appointed feasts and Sabbath days.
When he was very angry, he turned his back on
    king and priest alike.

⁷ The Lord deserted his altar.
    He left his temple.
He gave the walls of Jerusalem’s palaces
    into the hands of her enemies.
They shouted loudly in the house of the Lord.
    You would have thought it was the day
    of an appointed feast.