15. You, Lord, have turned backmy warriors and crushedmy young heroes.Judah was a woman untouched,but you let her be trampledlike grapes in a wine-pit.
16. Because of this, I mourn,and tears flood my eyes.No one is here to comfortor to encourage me;we have lost the war—my people are suffering.
17. Zion reaches out her hands,but no one offers comfort.The Lord has turnedthe neighbouring nationsagainst Jacob's descendants.Jerusalem is merely a filthy ragto her neighbours.
18. The Lord was right,but I refused to obey him.Now I ask all of you to lookat my sufferings—even my young peoplehave been dragged away.
19. I called out to my lovers,but they betrayed me.My priests and my leaders diedwhile searching the cityfor scraps of food.
20. Won't you look and seehow upset I am, our Lord?My stomach is in knots,and my heart is brokenbecause I betrayed you.In the streets and at home,my people are slaughtered.