¹⁶ “I cry about these things.
    My eyes overflow with tears.
There is no one near to comfort me.
    There is no one who can give me strength again.
My children are left sad and lonely
    because the enemy has won.”

¹⁷ Jerusalem reaches out her hands,
    but there is no one to comfort her.
The Lord has commanded for the people of Jacob
    that their enemies surround them.
Jerusalem has become unclean
    like those around her.

¹⁸ Jerusalem says, “The Lord is right.
    But I refused to obey him.
Listen, all you people.
    Look at my pain.
My young women and men
    have gone into captivity.